Raman spectroscopic and structural studies of indigo and its four 6,6′-dihalogeno analogues

Abstract

The Raman and electron impact mass spectra of synthetic indigo and its four 6,6′-dihalogeno analogues are reported and discussed. The influence of varying the halogen on these Raman spectra is considered. Particular emphasis is laid on distinguishing indigo from 6,6′-dibromoindigo and differentiating between the dihalogenocompounds, so as to develop protocols for determining whether artefacts are coloured with dyes of marine or terrestrial origin and whether such artefacts are dyed with genuine “Tyrian Purple” or with dihalogenoindigo substitutes that do not contain bromine. The value of even low resolution electron impact mass spectrometry in a forensic context as a means of identifying authentic 6,6′-dibromoindigo and distinguishing it from its dihalogenoanalogues is emphasised