Dyes and dye-donor elements for thermal dye transfer recording

摘要

The present invention provides a dye-donor element for use according to thermal dye sublimation transfer. The dye-donor element comprises a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a polymeric binder and a dye corresponding to the following general formula (I): wherein : Z represents hydrogen or a substituent, X represents N-R or R represents NR<3>R<4> or the residue of an aromatic coupling compound E-Q wherein Q is a group displaceable by a diazotised amine; R<1> represents NR<3>R<4>, OR<1><2> or SR<1><2>; R<2> represents hydrogen, cyano, COR<1><3>, CO2R<1><3>, CONR<1><4>R<1><5>, SO2R<1><6>; R<3> and R<4> each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, an a heterocyclic group or R<3> and R<4> together with the atoms to which they are attached represent the atoms necessary to complete a ring; Y represents a substituent; n represents 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, the substituents being the same or different when n is greater than 1 or two or more Y substituents can form an annelated ring system; R<1><2>, R<1><3>, R<1><4> and R<1><5> each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic ring or R<3> and R<4> together with the atoms to which they are attached represent the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6-membered ring or R<3> and/or R<4> together with the atoms to which they are attached and one of the Y-substituents represent the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6- membered, fused-on heterocyclic ring or R<1><4> and R<1><5> together with the atoms to which they are attached represent the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6- membered ring or R<1><3> or R<1><4> or R<1><5> or R<1><4> and R<1><5> together with one of the Y-substituents and the atoms to which they are attached represent the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6-membered fused-on heterocyclic ring; R<1><6> represents hydroxy, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, NR<1><7>R<1><8>, an aryl group or an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, or R<1><6> together with one of the Y-substituents and the atoms to which they are attached represent the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6-membered fused-on heterocyclic ring; R<1><7> and R<1><8> each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic ring or R<1><7> and R<1><8> together with the atoms to which they are attached represent the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6-membered ring. The present invention further provides a method for making an image using the aforementioned dye donor element.