Process for the coloration of hydrophobic chemical fibers by metalliferous dyestuffs of cationic character

A process for dyeing or printing synthetic or artificial hydrophobic textile fibers based on polyesters or cellulose triacetate in an aqueous medium containing a dyestuff having the formula:

• ##STR3## in which N is nitrogen, Q represents a nitrogen atom or a methine group,
• D and E each represent a radical not containing an ionic group and having an aromatic, heterocyclic or aliphatic character, this radical carrying in the vicinal position with respect to the grouping --N=Q-- a chelating group K.sub.1 or K.sub.2 ;
• Cr is trivalent chromium;
• K.sub.1 represents --O-- or --COO--;
• K.sub.2 represents --O-- or --NR--;
• R being an alkyl or aryl substituent or a hydrogen atom;
• L represents a group of 3 neutral monodentate ligands, or neutral bidentate ligand and a neutral monodentate ligand, or a neutral tridentate ligand;
• and
• A represents a simple anion carrying one negative charge, the cationic part of which dyestuff does not contain an ionized group,
• which process comprises contacting said fibers with an aqueous dyeing medium at a pH of 3 to 7 and a temperature at least equal to 80.degree. C containing a complexing agent sparingly soluble in water and not containing an ionized group and more soluble in the fiber than in the aqueous dyeing medium, and with the premetallized dyestuff;
• said complexing agent being capable of fixation on the metal of the premetallized dyestuff with liberation of a proton and of chelating agent forming a five- or six-membered ring with the chromium of the dyestuff complex thereby rendering it neutral.