Arylide yellow

Arylide yellow crystals
Credit: Colourlex

Description

A name used for synthetic monoazo yellow colorants. The first arylide yellow (PY 01) was synthesized from aniline-based diazonium salts and acetoacetarylide in 1909 by Hermann Wagner in Germany. Initially they were sold commercially as Hansa yellow by Hoechst AG. Arylide yellows have good tinting strength, opacity and solvent resistance. Because of their good lightfastness they were (and still are) primarily used in printing inks, plastic, rubbers, as well as architectural and artists paints. Monoarylide yellows have better lightfastness than diarylides. The colors began to be commercially available around 1925 and became more widely used mid-century as a replacement for the toxic cadmium yellow. There have been some arylide oranges (PO1, PO6) and reds (PR211), but they are no used as artist colorants.

Synonyms and Related Terms

monoarylide; azo dye; monoazo dye; Hansa yellow; colorante azoico (Esp.); colorante azoico (It.)

FTIR PY1(MFA)

FTIR PY3(MFA)

FTIR PY4(MFA)

FTIR PY62(MFA)

FTIR PY65(MFA)

FTIR PY73(MFA)

FTIR PY74(MFA)

FTIR PY75(MFA)

Arylide Dye Comparisons

Note: Most information in this table is from Artist's pigment.org. Their pages have more compounds as well as Health & Safety info.

Pigment number	CI number	Chemical composition	Discovery or Patent; Production	Some commercial names	Description
PY01	11680	C17H16N4O4	1909; 1910	Hansa Yellow G; Primary yellow; Fast Yellow G	greenish yellow, lower color strength
PY02	11730	C18H17ClN4O4	1911; 1920	Hansa Yellow GR	more reddish shade than PY1
PY03	11710	C16H12Cl2N4O4	1910; 1912	Hansa Yellow 10G; Hansa Yellow light; Studio Yellow; Monoazo Yellow Lemon	green shade
PY04	11665	C16H14N4O4	1909	Hansa Yellow 10G;
PY05	11660	C16H14N4O4	1909; 1928	Hansagelb5G;
PY06	11670	C16H13ClN4O4	1909; 1928	Hansa Yellow 3G;	orangish
PY10	12710	C16H12Cl2N4O	xx; 1928	Hansa Yellow R
PY49	11765	C19H19Cl2N3O4		Monolite Fast Yellow
PY60	12705	C16H13ClN4O	xx; 1928	Hansa Yellow 4R3D-1750;
PY62	13940	Ca; C17H16N4O7S		Azo Yellow 62; HP Yellow
PY65	11740	C18H18N4O6	1936; xx	Hansa Yellow 3RN; Hansa Yellow Deep; Permanent Yellow Deep	reddish shade
PY73	11738	C17H15ClN4O5	1957; xx	Arylide Yellow GX; Hansa Brilliant Yellow; Hansa Yellow Medium	mid yellow
PY74	11741	C18H18N4O6	1958; 1961	Arylide Yellow GX; Arylide Yellow 5GX; Hansa Brilliant Yellow	green tinge, high color strength
PY75	11770	C18H17ClN4O5		Arylide Yellow; Hansa Yellow	redder than PY74

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Most arylide dyes are soluble in organic solvents and some may discolor in solvents.
• Resistant to water, oil, acids and bases.
• Melting Point = 150 (dec)

Risks

• May bleed in paints.
• Decomposes at temperatures over 150 C.
• Potential carcinogen.

Resources and Citations

• ColourLex: Arylide Yellow
• B. Berrie, S.Q. Lomax, 'Azo Pigments: Their History, Synthesis, Properties and Use in Artists' Materials', Studies in the History of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, No. 57, 1997
• Artist Pigments.org: Pigment Yellow Note: see individual sheets for each pigment number
• Handprint.com: Monoazo
• Wikipedia: Arylide yellow Accessed March 2026
• CHSOS: Spectra (Reflectance, XRF, Raman, FTIR) for Arylide yellow 5GX