Novel mono- and bis-azo dyes containing the azulen-1-yl moiety: Synthesis, characterization, electronic spectra and basicity

3- and 4-[(Azulen-1-yl)-azo]-azo-benzenes were obtained in good yields using the buffered coupling reaction between several alkyl-substituted azulenes and diazotized phenylazo-phenylamines in dichloroacetic acid. The coupling products were characterized and the recorded electronic spectra are discussed. The isosbestic points obtained by protonation enabled the determination of their pKa values.