The pure compound is pale yellow, but commercial samples are often colored.

[3] Its use in the production of dyes has been largely discontinued because of concerns about carcinogenicity.

It undergoes chlorination (for example in water treatment plants) to give the tetrachloro derivative.

This bis(diazo) intermediate is then coupled to derivatives of acetoacetylaminobenzene (CH3C(O)CH2C(O)NHAr).

[1] This compound has been shown to increase the incidence of tumors in animals.