A series of reactive disperse dyes incorporating halogenated acetamide group were synthesized and applied to dye cotton fabric in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)). Dyeing experiments were conducted in scCO(2) with dye concentration of 0.5% owf (% on weight of cotton fabric), varying from 80 to 120 degrees C, for 1-3 h at a constant pressure of 200 bar. The results showed that the color strength of dyed cotton fabric increased favorably when increasing temperature and time. The color characteristics were studied as well in terms of the reflectance spectra. And the color fastness to washing and rubbing were also reasonably good. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.