Styryl dyes

Abstract

The present invention provides styryl dyes which have absorption maxima at a wavelength of 400 nm or less and are sensitive to a laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nm or less, light absorbents and optical recording media which comprise the styryl dyes, and a process for producing the styryl dyes which comprises reacting with an aldehyde compound a quaternary ammonium salt of nitrogen atom containing heterocyclic compound having an active methyl or active methylene group.

1 . A styryl dye represented by Formula 1:  
     Formula 1:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein in Formula 1, φ 1  represents a heterocycle represented by any one of Formulae 2 to 8; φ 2  represents an optionally substituted aromatic ring or heterocycle; R 1  represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, ether group, acyl group, halogen, or cyano group, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon group, ether group, and acyl group may have a substituent; X −  represents a counter ion; and “n” is a number of X −  to balance the electric charge in the styryl dye:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     throughout Formulae 2 to 7, A represents an optionally substituted monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic ring or heterocycle; when A is not present in Formulae 2 to 7, a substituent similar to A is in position filled by A; throughout Formulae 2 to 8, R 2  represents an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group and R 3  represents a hydrogen or an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group which is identical to or different from R 2 .  
   
   
       2 . The styryl dye of  claim 1 , wherein said φ 2  is a nitrogen atom containing heterocycle which forms an ammonium salt.  
   
   
       3 . The styryl dye of  claim 1  wherein said counter ion is an organic metal complex anion with a light-resistant improving ability.  
   
   
       4 . The styryl dye of  claim 1  which has an absorption maximum at a wavelength of 400 nm or less.  
   
   
       5 . The styryl dye of  claim 1  which substantially absorbs a visible light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less when formed in a thin layer.  
   
   
       6 . A process for producing the styryl dye of  claim 1  comprising reacting a compound, represented by Formula 9 having φ 1  and R 1  corresponding to Formula 1, with a compound represented by Formula 10 having φ 2  corresponding to Formula 1.  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       7 . The styryl dye of  claim 2 , wherein said counter ion is an organic metal complex anion with a light-resistant improving ability.  
   
   
       8 . The styryl dye of  claim 2  which has an absorption maximum at a wavelength of 400 nm or less.  
   
   
       9 . The styryl dye of  claim 3  which has an absorption maximum at a wavelength of 400 nm or less.  
   
   
       10 . The styryl dye of  claim 2  which substantially absorbs visible light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less when formed in thin layer.  
   
   
       11 . The styryl dye of  claim 3  which substantially absorbs visible light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less when formed in thin layer.  
   
   
       12 . The styryl dye of  claim 4  which substantially absorbs visible light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less when formed in thin layers.