PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR GENERATING ACID

摘要

A process for generation of acid uses a medium comprising a first acid-generating component capable of generating a first acid, and a secondary acid generator, this secondary acid generator being capable of thermal decomposition to form a secondary acid, the thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator being catalyzed by the first acid. At least part of the medium is exposed to so as to cause formation of the first acid from the first acid-generating component; and the medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed part of the medium, acid-catalyzed thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator and formation of the secondary acid. The secondary acid generator has a first site bearing a first leaving group and a second site bearing a second leaving group, the second leaving group, in combination with a proton, forming the secondary acid. Because of the use of two leaving groups, it is possible to provide a storage stable secondary acid generator which still produces a strong acid. The invention also provides certain novel phosphate secondary acid generators, and 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridine dyes which can function as both sensitizing and image dyes in the aforementioned process.