Indole-aldehyde hair dyes

Claim 1

A hair dye composition comprising a combination of an indole of formula I: ##STR3## wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected form H, CH 3 , ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; and wherein R 2 and R 4 through R 7 are each independently selected from H, CH 3 , ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, OH, alkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , N(alkyl) 2 , N(alkoxy) 2 , N(hydroxy alkoxy) 2 , halogen, aryl, aryloxy and acetoxy and an aldehyde of formula II: ##STR4## wherein R 8 is selected from CH 3 , alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, benzyl, aminobenzyl, dialklaminobenzyl, dialkoxyaminobenzyl, cinnamyl, aminocinnamyl, dialkyaminocinnamyl, dialkoxyaminocinnamyl, nitrobenzyl, alkylbenzyl, alkoxybenzyl, phenol, dihydroxyphenyl, trihydroxyphenyl, nitrohydroxyphenyl, hydroxycinnamyl and acetamidophenyl in a reaction medium having a pH of about 2 to about 10.

Claim 3

A method for dyeing natural fibers, including human hair, comprising treating said natural fiber with a combination of an indole component and an aldehyde component and allowing said combination to react in the presence of the natural fiber, wherein the indole is of formula I: ##STR5## wherein R 1 and R 3 are each independently selected from H, CH 3 , ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; and wherein R 2 and R 4 through R 7 are each independently selected from H, CH 3 ,ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, OH, alkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , N(alkyl) 2 , N(hydroxy alkoxy) 2 , halogen, aryl, aryloxy and acetoxy and the aldehyde of formula II: ##STR6## wherein R 8 is selected from CH 3 , alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, benzyl, aminobenzyl, dialkylaminobenzyl, dialkoxyaminobenzyl, cinnamyl, aminocinnamyl, dialkylaminocinnamyl, dialkoxyaminocinnamyl, nitrobenzyl, alkylbenzyl, alkoxybenzyl, phenol, dihydroxyphenyl, trihydroxyphenyl, nitrohydroxyphenyl, hydroxycinnamyl and acetamidophenyl, said reaction taking place in the presence of a suitable medium.

Claim 4

A method for dyeing natural fibers, including human hair, comprising treating said natural fiber with a combination of an indole component and an aldehyde component and allowing said combination to react in the presence of the natural fiber, wherein the indole is of formula I: ##STR5## wherein R 1 and R 3 are each independently selected from H, CH 3 , ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; and wherein R 2 and R 4 through R 7 are each independently selected from H, CH 3 ,ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, OH, alkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , N(alkyl) 2 , N(hydroxy alkoxy) 2 , halogen, aryl, aryloxy and acetoxy and the aldehyde of formula II: ##STR6## wherein R 8 is selected from CH 3 , alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, benzyl, aminobenzyl, dialkylaminobenzyl, dialkoxyaminobenzyl, cinnamyl, aminocinnamyl, dialkylaminocinnamyl, dialkoxyaminocinnamyl, nitrobenzyl, alkylbenzyl, alkoxybenzyl, phenol, dihydroxyphenyl, trihydroxyphenyl, nitrohydroxyphenyl, hydroxycinnamyl and acetamidophenyl, said reaction taking place in the presence of a suitable medium.