Abstract: A process for the manufacture of metal complex dyes, wherein a metallisable dye is reacted with a metal compound in a solvent and in the presence of a hydroxycarboxylate.

Abstract: A process is described for the manufacture of chromium complexes of metallizable dyes in the form of solid dyestuff powders of low salt to salt-free content, or of concentrated solutions of low salt or salt-free content in which a metallizable dye, or a mixture of metallizable dyes, in an organic solvent which is immiscible or sparingly miscible with water, or reacted with a chromium compound, in the course of which any water which is liberated is removed by azeotropic distillation, and the resulting chromium complex, provided it is a 1:1 complex, is then optionally reacted in the presence of a base with a further mol of a metallizable dye, or of a colorless, complexforming compound, then isolated from undissolved constituents, and the resulting dye solution of low salt or salt-free content is optionally concentrated or evaporated to dryness, whereby it is possible the manufacture of 1:1 or 1:2 chromium complexes without the handicap of effluent pollution, and to isolate the dyes without using salt.