Dicyanine A

Homepage, Shamash, Quest for Dicyanin, Notes on Aura Dye Chemistry, Materials, and Sources, Dicyanine A, Pinacyanol

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Dicyanine A is the proper dyestuff name for the functional dye used by Dr. Walter Kilner in his experiments on observing the Aura. He referred to it as "Dicyanin".

Dicyanine A

RN	20591-23-5
MF	C31H37IN2O2
MW	596.55148
mp (°C)	300

Chem Exper

• Dicyanine A Suppliers, Molecular models, quotes
• 3d model Java req

Suppliers

Supplier	Description	Reference
cole-parmer	Dicyanine A	EW-88344-15 1 G, $179.25
AcrosOrganics	Dicyanine A, 98%	407050010 1 GR 407050010 1 GR 407055000 500 MG 407055000 500 MG
debayer	Dicyanine A	20591235 Reagent,Bulk, Semi Bulk
chemos	dicyanine a	149636 on request
leputech	Dicyanine A	20591235 Bulk, Semi Bulk,Reagent
matrixswitzerland	Dicyanine A	MM20591235 semi-bulk MM20591235 bulk
advtechind	DICYANINE A	1046284 1G 1046284 500MG 1046284 on request

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Solvation of Dicyanine A

Attempts to dissolve Dicyanine A in denatured alcohol and 70% ethanol have not been completely successful. When either of these solvents is tried, a significant fraction of the Dicyanine A goes into solution, resulting in a muddy greenish fluid with a pearlescent quality. Upon filtration, the resulting fluid is a lovely blue-green, with a dark blue fraction remaining in the filter paper. However, this color has no red, as is demonstrated by the following images.



Note that the color histogram shows a significant green component, but no red component.



The color histogram is displayed in the upper right of the image.




In an effort to get more of the dicyanine A to solve, the pH of a mixture of ~0.01 grams of dicyanine A in ~ 13.4 ml of a 70% ethanol solution in a test tube was lowered (acidified) with drops of 6% acetic acid. At each interval, the pH of the mixture was recorded along with any observations. The results are recorded below.

The initial solution consisted of a moderately blue-green solution plus a dark blue-green sediment.

drops acetic acid added	pH	color of solution	color of precipitate
0	8.16	blue	dark green
2	7.38	blue	dark green
7	4.15	blue	dark green
8	3.95	blue	dark green
20	3.64	blue	dark green
25	3.40	blue	dark green
~20	2.92	slightly red	black clumps

Between pH 3.40 and 2.92, the dicyanine A was forced out of solution as a black precipitate, leaving a very slightly red clear solution. The effect was decisive, leaving no doubt that a definite change had occurred.

As time has passed, the solution is turning more red, which I take as evidence of the dicyanine A deteriorating in the low pH environment.

A friend of mine who is a chemist was interested in my experiments, and gave me a few tips. He speculates that I made dicyanine acetate, which is relatively insoluble in ethyl alcohol at the low pH, and so precipitated. He agrees with the assessment that the complex then proceeded to deteriorate in the acidic solution.

It is possible that HCL might work better. My friend doesn't think raising the pH will work, but I'll try it anyway (confirming predictions is good, since it means we understand what is going on.)

After looking at the molecular structure, he says that the dye is definitely polar, and would probably stick to cellulose or methyl cellulose. Putting some on a cotton ball, cotton cloth, or paper would be a simple experiment to validate that.

He also suggested that dicyanine or pinacyanol might be able to dye gelatin. That was one of my ideas, so I will bubble that up on my to-do list.

He also suggested that DMSO might be a good solvent for these materials.