JP2003073579A - Dye-forming material, image-forming material and method for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dye-forming material by which image can be formed in good efficiency without requiring an oxidizing agent such as silver halide and an image-forming method using the material and to provide a method for forming image. SOLUTION: The dye-forming material comprising an azomethine dye precursor represented by the general formula (1) [wherein Ar is an aromatic ring or the like; Cp is a coupler residue; L<1> is structural formula (1) (wherein X is O, S or SO2 ; R<1> and R<2> are each hydrogen atom or a substituent group); L<2> is hydrogen atom or a substituent group] and a deblocking agent represented by the general formula (2): (A)p (B)q [wherein A is an atomic group having a monovalent or trivalent cation; B is an atomic group having an anion neutralizing the charge of A; p and q are each an integer of 1 or 6] and forming an azomethine dye by acting on the azomethine dye precursor, the image-forming material using the dye-forming material and the method for forming image are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a novel dye forming material, an image forming material, and an image forming method, and more particularly to a dye forming material, an image forming material, and an image forming method useful for outputting digital image information. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Azomethine dyes have excellent hue, heat resistance, and
It has light fastness and a high molecular extinction coefficient, and is extremely widely used as a dye for image formation in conventional silver salt color photography, and also occupies an important position in the field of dyes and pigments. As a method of forming this azomethine dye, as in a silver salt color photograph, a reducing para-phenylenediamine derivative called a color developing agent or a para-aminophenol derivative is oxidized, and a phenol derivative, a naphthol derivative, a 5-pyrazolone derivative, A method of synthesizing by reacting a proton-dissociative compound such as an acetanilide derivative with a benzene having an electron-donating group such as an N, N-dialkylaniline derivative (these are generally called a coupler) is known. .

In the conventional silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, silver halide is required to oxidize the color developing agent when forming the azomethine dye. However, silver halide is an extremely strong oxidizing agent, and therefore it may be difficult to make the coupler and the surrounding medium coexist stably in the material. Further, silver halide is expensive, which causes an increase in the manufacturing cost of silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials. Further, the conventional image forming method using a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material usually requires development, bleaching and fixing using a processing solution, and the process is complicated. If an image forming material that does not require an oxidizing agent and can form an image more easily can be used for image formation, it is advantageous in terms of cost and operation. Further, in recent years, there is a strong demand for an image forming method that can output digital image information in full color at low cost and easily. If an azomethine dye can be easily formed at low cost without using silver halide, it is advantageous for application to digital image information output.

A method using an azomethine dye precursor is known as a method for forming an azomethine dye which does not require an oxidizing agent such as silver halide, and which addresses these problems (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 12-212464). This is a method of forming an azomethine dye by reacting an azomethine dye precursor with a base such as amines, but this method has a problem that the coloring efficiency is low.

[0005]

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and does not require an oxidizing agent such as silver halide, is inexpensive, and can be efficiently produced by a simple process. An object is to provide a dye forming material capable of forming an image, an image forming material using the same, and an image forming method. Further, the present invention provides an image forming material (particularly, an image forming material for digital image information output) and an image forming method capable of forming an image by a simple operation at low cost without requiring liquid treatment. To aim.

[0006]

Means for solving the above-mentioned problems are as follows. <1> An azomethine dye precursor represented by the following general formula (1) and a deprotecting agent represented by the following general formula (2) which acts on the azomethine dye precursor to form an azomethine dye. It is a characteristic dye forming material.

[Chemical 5] [In the formula, Ar represents an aromatic ring or a heterocycle which may have a substituent. Cp represents a coupler residue, which may or may not form a ring. L ¹ represents the following structural formula (1). L ² represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent which is released in the process of dye formation. ]

[Chemical 6] [In the formula, X represents O, S or SO ₂ , and R ¹ and R ² represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent. ]

[Chemical 7] [In the formula, A represents an atomic group having a monovalent to trivalent positive charge, and B represents an atomic group having a negative charge that neutralizes the charge of A. p and q represent an integer of 1 to 6. ]

<2> The dye forming material according to <1>, wherein B in the general formula (2) is an atomic group represented by the following general formula (3) or general formula (4). .

[Chemical 8] [In the formula, X, Y, and Z represent O or S. R ¹ and R ² represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. ]

<3> The dye-forming material according to <1> or <2>, wherein the image-forming layer further contains a photopolymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound.

<4> An image-forming material having at least one support and a recording layer comprising one or more layers formed on the support, wherein the recording layer is described in <1> or <2>. And an image forming material containing the dye forming material.

<5> An image-forming material having at least one support and a recording layer formed of one or more layers on the support, wherein the recording layer is the dye-forming material as described in <3>. It is an image forming material characterized by containing.

<6> Forming an azomethine dye by applying imagewise heat to a recording layer containing the image forming material described in <4> to promote the reaction between the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent. Is an image forming method.

<7> A step of irradiating a recording layer containing the image forming material according to <5> with light imagewise to cure the polymerizable compound in the light irradiation area to form a latent image, and a latent image. Is applied to the recording layer on which the azomethine dye has been formed to accelerate the reaction between the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent, thereby forming an azomethine dye, thereby forming an image. .

<8> The image forming method according to <7>, further including a fixing step of fixing the image by irradiating the entire surface of the image forming layer with light.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [Dye-forming material] The dye-forming material of the present invention comprises an azomethine dye precursor and a deprotecting agent which acts on the azomethine dye precursor to form an azomethine dye. According to the above, it contains a polymerizable compound and a photopolymerization initiator.

Hereinafter, the azomethine dye precursor, the deprotecting agent, the polymerizable compound, and the photopolymerization initiator will be described in detail. (Azomethine Dye Precursor) The azomethine dye precursor contained in the dye forming material of the present invention is a compound represented by the following general formula (1).

[0016]

[Chemical 9]

Ar in the general formula (1) represents an aromatic ring or a heterocycle which may have a substituent. Examples of the aromatic ring which may have a substituent include groups represented by the following structural formula (2).

[0018]

[Chemical 10]

In the structural formula (2), R ¹¹ is hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group, halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, SO ₃ H, heterocyclic group, NR ¹³ R ¹⁴ , OR ¹⁵ , CO ₂
H, SR ¹⁵ , COR ¹⁶ , CO ₂ R ¹⁶ , SO ₂ R ¹⁶ , SOR
¹⁶ , CONR ¹⁷ R ¹⁸ and SO ₂ NR ¹⁷ R ¹⁸ are represented. Among them, NR ¹³ R ¹⁴ is preferable as R ¹¹ . R ¹³ and R ¹⁴ represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, and R ¹⁵ represents a hydrogen atom, COR ¹⁶ , CO ₂ R ¹⁶ , SO ₂ R
¹⁶ , CONR ¹⁷ R ¹⁸ , an alkyl group or an aryl group,
R ¹⁶ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R ¹⁷ and R ¹⁸ represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.

As R ¹³ and R ¹⁴ , a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms and an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms are preferable, and specifically, for example, hydrogen, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, Butyl group, octyl group, octadecyl group, hydroxyethyl group, methanesulfonylaminoethyl group, phenoxyethyl group, cyanoethyl group, benzoyloxyethyl group, cyclohexyl group, phenyl group, tolyl group, methoxyphenyl group, benzyl group and the like. . NR ¹³ R ¹⁴ and R ¹³ and R ¹⁴ may form a ring which may contain a hetero atom such as O, S and N, or N
R ^{13 and} R ¹⁴ may form a ring together with the substituted phenyl ring.

R ¹⁵ is a hydrogen atom or has 1 to 40 carbon atoms.
COR ¹⁶ , CO ₂ R ¹⁶ , SO ₂ R ¹⁶ , CONR ¹⁷ R ¹⁸ ,
Alkyl groups and aryl groups are preferable, and specifically, for example, hydrogen atom, methyl group, ethyl group, octyl group, benzyl group, phenyl group, acetyl group, benzoyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, phenylsulfonyl group, dibutylaminocarbonyl group, etc. Is mentioned.

R ¹² represents the same group as R ¹¹ . Also, R ¹¹
And R ¹² may combine to form a ring. In addition, R ¹¹ , R
^{When 12} has a dissociative proton such as OH, CO ₂ H and SO ₃ H, it may form a salt with various inorganic cations and organic cations such as tetraalkylammonium cations.

The alkyl group, aryl group and heterocyclic group mentioned for R ^{11 to} R ¹⁸ may further have a substituent, and the substituent may be an alkyl group, an aryl group, a hydroxy group or a nitro group. , Cyano group, halogen group, alkylsulfonyl group, arylsulfonyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, acyl group,
Amino group, alkylamino group, dialkylamino group, acylamino group, alkylsulfonylamino group, arylsulfonylamino group, carbamoyl group, sulfamoyl group, alkylthio group, arylthio group, heterocyclic group, arylamino group, diarylamino group, arylalkyl Examples thereof include amino group, alkoxy group and aryloxy group.

Specific examples of the heterocyclic ring which may have a substituent include a pyridine group, a pyrimidine group, a triazine group, a pyridazine group, a pyrazine group, a furan group, a thiophene group, a pyrrole group, a pyrazole group and a triazole group. , Isoxazole group, isothiazole group, imidazole group,
Examples thereof include an oxazole group, a thiazole group and a tetrazole group. Examples of the substituent include the groups represented by R ¹¹ and R ¹² .

The Ar may be condensed with an aromatic ring or a heterocycle. The alkyl group contained in Ar may be saturated, unsaturated, or cyclic.

In the above general formula (1), Cp represents a coupler residue, which may or may not form a ring. As these couplers, known couplers used in the field of silver salt photography (such as those referred to as 4-equivalent couplers and 2-equivalent couplers in the field of silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials) and diazo heat-sensitive recording materials are used. All known materials can be used.

Examples of couplers include Research Disclosure No. 17643, VII-CG, and the same No. 307105 and VII-C to G, the non-diffusible one having a hydrophobic group called a ballast group, the one not having a hydrophobic group, or the polymerized one is preferable. Examples of couplers preferably used in the present invention include cyan couplers such as naphthol couplers and phenol couplers. US Pat. Nos. 2,369,929 and 2,772,162.
No. 2801171, No. 28952626, No. 34
46622, 3758308, 3772002
No. 4052212, No. 4126396, No. 41
46396, 4228233, and 4254212.
No. 4296199, No. 4296200, No. 43
No. 27173, No. 4333999, No. 4334011
No. 4343011, No. 4427767, No. 44
No. 51559, No. 4690888, No. 4775616
, West German Patent Publication 3329729, European Patent 1213
65A, 249453A, JP-A-61-42658.
The couplers described in No. etc. are mentioned.

As magenta couplers, US Pat.
Examples thereof include imidazole [1,2-b] pyrazoles described in No. 00630, pyrazolo [1,5-b] [1,2,4] triazoles described in US Pat. No. 4,540,654, and the like.

In addition, a pyrazolotriazole coupler having a branched alkyl group directly bonded to the 2-position, 3-position or 6-position of a pyrazolotriazole ring as described in JP-A-61-65245, JP-A-61-161. No. 65246, a pyrazoloazole coupler containing a sulfonamide group in the molecule, a pyrazoloazole coupler having an alkoxyphenyl sulfonamide ballast group as described in JP-A-61-147254, Pyrazolotriazole couplers having an alkoxy group or an aryloxy group at the 6-position, as described in European Patent (Publication) Nos. 226849 and 294785, and US Pat. Nos. 30,61432, 3725067 and 43106.
19, No. 4,351,897, No. 4,556,630, European Patent No. 73636, JP-A Nos. 55-118034, 60-35730, 60-43659, and 60-.
No. 185951, No. 61-72238, International Publication W0
88/04795, and Research Disclosure No. 24220, No. 24220. Examples thereof include couplers described in 24230.

Examples of yellow couplers include US Pat. Nos. 3,933,501, 3973968 and 40.
22620, 4248961, 4314023
No. 4, No. 4326024, No. 4401754, No. 45
11649, European Patent 249473A, Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58
-10739, British Patents 142250, 147.
The couplers described in 6760 and the like can be mentioned.

Typical examples of polymerized dye-forming couplers are shown in US Pat. Nos. 3,451,820 and 40802.
11, No. 43687282, No. 4409320, No. 4576910, European Patent 341188A, British Patent No. 2102137, and the like. In addition, those described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-260336, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-271395 and the like can be mentioned.

In the general formula (1), L ¹ represents the structural formula (1) shown below.

[0033]

[Chemical 11]

In the above formula, X represents O, S, SO ₂ , and
R ¹ and R ² represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Examples of the substituent include an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, and an electron-withdrawing group having a positive Hammett σ value. Examples of the electron-withdrawing group include a halogen atom, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonamide group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acyl group, a cyano group and a nitro group.

In the general formula (1), L ² represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent which is released in the process of dye formation shown below.

[0036]

[Chemical 12]

In the above formula, R ³¹ , R ³² , R ³³ and R ³⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an acyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkyloxycarbonyl group or an aryloxycarbonyl group. It represents a group or an amide group, and R ³¹ and R ³² may combine to form a ring structure (in this case, saturated or unsaturated). In addition, R ³⁵ , R ³⁶ , R ³⁷ , R ³⁸ ,
R ³⁹ , R ⁴⁰ , R ⁴¹ , R ⁴² and R ⁴³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group. R ⁴² and R ⁴³
May combine with each other to form a ring (in this case, saturated or unsaturated).

Specific examples of the azomethine dye precursor are shown below, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0039]

[Chemical 13]

[0040]

[Chemical 14]

[0041]

[Chemical 15]

[0042]

[Chemical 16]

[0043]

[Chemical 17]

[0044]

[Chemical 18]

[0045]

[Chemical 19]

[0046]

[Chemical 20]

[0047]

[Chemical 21]

[0048]

[Chemical formula 22]

(Deprotecting Agent) The deprotecting agent contained in the dye forming material of the present invention is a compound represented by the following general formula (2).

[0050]

[Chemical formula 23]

In the above general formula (2), A represents an atomic group having a positive charge of 1 to 3 and B represents an atomic group having a negative charge for neutralizing the charge of A. p and q represent the integer of 1-6. Examples of A include a metal ion, an ammonium ion, a sulfonium ion, a phosphonium ion, and the like. A metal ion and an ammonium ion are preferable, an ammonium ion is more preferable, and a tetraalkylammonium ion is particularly preferable.

Examples of the metal atom include lithium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, silver and aluminum. The ammonium ion may be N ⁺ R ³ R ⁴ R ⁵
Examples of the structure of R ⁶ include R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , and R ⁶ ,
Each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. An alkyl group,
When the aryl group has a substituent, the substituent is a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, a cyano group,
Nitro group, acyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, acylamino group, acyloxy group, substituted or unsubstituted amino group, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group, substituted or unsubstituted sulfamoyl group, sulfonylamino group, alkyl Examples thereof include a sulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, and a sulfonic acid group. These groups may further have a substituent.

The B is a carboxylic acid anion,
Sulfonic acid anion, Sulfate monoester anion,
Phosphoric acid diester anion, β-ketoester anion, β-diketone anion, oxime anion,
Organic anions such as hydroxamic acid anions, tetraphenyl borate anions, thiocarboxylic acid anions, dithiocarboxylic acid anions, alcoholates, phenolates, thiolates, and thiophenolates, halide anions, sulfate anions, nitrate anions, phosphate anions , Atomic groups containing inorganic anions such as phosphorus hexafluoride anion, boron tetrafluoride anion, etc., but among them, atomic groups represented by the following general formula (3) and general formula (4) Is preferred.

[0054]

[Chemical formula 24]

In the above general formulas (3) and (4), X, Y and Z
Represents O or S. R¹, R²Is a substituted or unsubstituted
It represents a alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Archi
When the aryl group or the aryl group has a substituent,
Then, the R³, R^Four, R ^Five, R⁶The substituents listed in
You can The substituent is a hydroxyl group or a
In the case of ruboxyl group and sulfone group, these are dissociated and
It may be a union. Below are specific examples of deprotection agents.
Show.

[0056]

[Chemical 25]

[0057]

[Chemical formula 26]

[0058]

[Chemical 27]

[0059]

[Chemical 28]

[0060]

[Chemical 29]

(Polymerizable Compound) The polymerizable compound, which is optionally contained in the dye-forming material of the present invention, is a compound which undergoes a polymerization reaction by the action of a photopolymerization initiator, which will be described later, to cure upon exposure. The polymerization of the polymerizable compound reduces the mobility of the azomethine dye precursor and / or the deprotecting agent contained in the dye-forming material.

As the polymerizable compound, a known compound having a polymerizable group can be used. For example, acrylic acid and its salts include acrylic acid esters and acrylamides, methacrylic acid and its salts include methacrylic acid esters and methacrylamides, and further maleic anhydride, maleic acid esters, itaconic acid, and itaconic acid. Examples thereof include esters, styrenes, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, N-vinyl heterocycles, aryl ethers and allyl esters. Among these polymerizable vinyl monomers, a polymerizable vinyl monomer having a plurality of vinyl groups in the molecule is particularly preferable, for example,
Acrylic esters and methacrylic acid esters of polyhydric alcohols such as trimethylolpropane and pentaerythritol, etc., polyhydric phenols such as acrylic acid esters and methacrylic acid esters of resorcinol, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol and bisphenols, and Acrylate or methacrylate terminated epoxy resins, acrylate or methacrylate terminated polyesters and the like are particularly preferred.

Specific examples of these include ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol hydroxypentaacrylate, hexanediol-1,6-dimethacrylate and diethylene glycol. Dimethacrylate etc. are mentioned. A polymerizable group may be introduced into either the azomethine dye precursor or the deprotecting agent to allow the azomethine dye precursor and / or the deprotecting agent to have a function as a polymerizable compound.

(Photopolymerization Initiator) The photopolymerization initiator optionally contained in the dye-forming material of the present invention is capable of causing a polymerization reaction of the above-mentioned polymerizable compound contained in the dye-forming material upon irradiation with light. Has the function to start. As the photopolymerization initiator, a preferable material can be selected from various materials in consideration of the combination with the polymerizable compound. For example, Norr in which a bond between a carbonyl group such as benzoin alkyl ether and a carbon atom adjacent thereto is cleaved.
Compounds that generate radicals by ish I-type reaction, compounds that undergo direct photolysis such as oxime esters, peroxides, organic sulfur compounds, halides and phosphine oxide compounds, and ketyl radicals by hydrogen abstraction reaction of benzophenone A combination of aromatic ketones, ketones and amines, where donors and acceptors form exciplexes, resulting in electron transfer and proton transfer to generate radicals, and photoredox in which radicals are generated in a complex system of dye and weak reducing agent. There are systems, etc. Others, “Chemical Review” by Monroe et al.
w ”, Vol. 93 (1993), p.435-446, the compound can also be used.

Among the above photopolymerization initiators, those having sensitivity in the visible region include visible lasers, LEDs, and
It is excellent in that various visible light sources such as white fluorescent lamps can be used. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2726258 describes a photopolymerization initiator composed of a cationic dye / anionic boron compound complex as one having sensitivity in the visible region, and is used as the photopolymerization initiator of the present invention. can do. Among them, the cationic dye / anionic boron compound complex represented by the following general formula (5) is preferable.

[0066]

[Chemical 30]

In the general formula (5), R ^A1 , R ^A2 , R ^A3 and R
^A4 is a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group, an alicyclic group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkaryl Base,
It represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted silyl group.
R ^A1 , R ^A2 , R ^A3 and R ^A4 may be the same or different from each other, and two or more of them may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure.

In the general formula (5), specific examples of the organic borate salt compound portion include tetramethyl borate, tetraethyl borate, tetrabutyl borate, triisobutyl methyl borate, di-n-butyl-di-t-butyl borate. , Tetra-n-butylborate, tetraphenylborate, tetra-p-chlorophenylborate, tetra-m-chlorophenylborate, tri-m-chlorophenyl-n-hexylborate, triphenylmethylborate, triphenylethylborate, triphenylpropylborate Rate, triphenyl-n-butyl borate, trimesityl butyl borate, tritolyl isopropyl borate, triphenyl benzyl borate, tetraphenyl borate, tetrabenzyl borate, triphenyl phenethyl borate , Triphenyl-p-chlorobenzylborate, triphenylethenylbutylborate, di (α-naphthyl) -dipropylborate, triphenylsilyltriphenylborate, tritoluylsilyltriphenylborate, tri-n-butyl (dimethyl) Preferable examples include borate anions such as phenylsilyl) borate.

In the general formula (5), D ⁺ represents a cationic dye. Examples of the cationic dye include visible light region to 1
There is no particular limitation as long as it has an absorption peak in the wavelength region of 100 nm, and it can be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, a methine dye, a carbonium dye, an indoline dye, a quinoneimine dye, a styryl dye, and the like are preferable. As the methine pigment,
Methine dyes, polymethine dyes, cyanine dyes, azamethine dyes and the like are preferable, and cyanine dyes, carbocyanine dyes, dicarbocyanine dyes, tricarbocyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes and the like are particularly preferable. As the carbonium dye, a triarylmethane dye, a xanthene dye, an acridine dye and the like are preferable, and a rhodamine dye is particularly preferable. The quinoneimine dye is preferably an azine dye, an oxazine dye, a thiazine dye, a quinoline dye, a thiazole dye, or the like. These organic cationic dyes may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, D ⁺ is preferably an organic cationic dye selected from methine dyes, polymethine dyes, triarylmethane dyes, indoline dyes, azine dyes, xanthene dyes, oxazine dyes, acridine dyes and styryl dyes, In particular, organic cationic dyes selected from cyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes, rhodamine dyes, and azamethine dyes are more preferable.

There are many known organic cationic dyes having an absorption peak in the wavelength region of visible light and above, for example, “Chemistry of Functional Dyes” 1981,
Pages 393 to 416 of the CMC publisher and 60 of "coloring materials"
[4] The dyes described in 212-224 (1987) and the like can be referred to.

In the dye-forming material of the present invention, the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent can be used in any molar ratio, but the deprotecting agent is 0 in molar ratio with respect to the azomethine dye precursor 1. It is preferably 0.01 to 100, more preferably 0.1 to 10, and 0.5 to
More preferably, it is 5. Further, in the dye-forming material of the present invention, the polymerizable compound and the deprotecting agent can be used in any molar ratio, but the molar ratio of the polymerizable compound to the deprotecting agent is 0.1 to 0.1. It is preferably 1000, more preferably 1 to 100, and 2 to 5
It is more preferably 0.

Then, in the dye-forming material of the present invention,
The amount of the photopolymerization initiator used is 0.0
It is preferably 1 to 10% by mass. The compounds listed as examples of the above-mentioned materials (azomethine dye precursor, deprotecting agent, etc.) contained in the dye-forming material of the present invention may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. You may use together.

As the binder used in the dye-forming material of the present invention, known water-soluble polymer compounds and latexes can be used. As the water-soluble polymer compound, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch derivative, casein,
Gum arabic, gelatin, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, epichlorohydrin-modified polyamide, isobutylene-maleic salicylic anhydride copolymer, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid amide and the like. And the like, and examples of the latexes include styrene-butadiene rubber latex, methyl acrylate-butadiene rubber latex, vinyl acetate emulsion and the like.

[Image Forming Material and Image Recording Method] The image forming material of the present invention has at least one support and a recording layer composed of one or more layers formed on the support. The layer is characterized in that it contains the dye-forming material of the invention described above. The image forming material according to the present invention is useful for outputting digital image information.

One example of an image recording method using the image forming material of the present invention is a step of irradiating a recording layer with light in an imagewise manner to form a latent image, and a step of applying heat to the recording layer having the latent image formed thereon. And / or applying a pressure to form an azomethine dye in a non-light-irradiated region. In the latent image forming step, radicals and the like are generated from the photopolymerization initiator by light irradiation, the polymerizable compound in the light irradiation region is polymerized, and the polymerizable compound in the light irradiation region is cured to form a latent image. In the color developing step, heat is applied to the recording layer on which the latent image is formed. In the non-light-irradiated region, the azomethine dye precursor, which was in a non-contact state in the recording layer, comes into contact with the deprotecting agent, and an azomethine dye is formed and color is developed. On the other hand, in the light irradiation region, since the polymerizable compound is cured, the mobility of any one of the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent is reduced, and therefore all materials cannot be contacted,
The azomethine dye is not formed and remains colorless.

In the image forming material of the present invention, the recording layer may have a multi-layer structure, and in that case, the material constituting the dye forming material may be contained in another layer. As a preferred embodiment, the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent are not contained in the same layer, and one of the two kinds is contained in the same layer as the polymerizable compound and the photopolymerization initiator. Is. Above all, a mode in which the deprotecting agent, the polymerizable monomer, and the photopolymerization initiator are contained in the same layer and the azomethine dye precursor is contained in another layer is preferable. Further, the number of supports may be two or more, and in that case, the recording layer is divided and formed on each support.
For example, in the above preferred embodiment, the first layer containing a deprotecting agent, a polymerizable monomer and a photopolymerization initiator is formed into a first layer.
And a second layer containing an azomethine dye precursor can be formed on the second support. In this form, the recording layer is composed of a first layer and a second layer.

When the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent are contained in the same layer, it is preferable that they are separated from each other. For example, the azomethine dye precursor is preferably encapsulated (encapsulated in a microcapsule) and separated from the others. By making the microcapsules heat-responsive or pressure-responsive, they can be brought into contact with each other by applying heat or pressure in an imagewise manner to form an image.

When the recording layer of the image forming material of the present invention is formed by being divided into two or more supports, the image forming material need not be integrated and subjected to the image forming step. For example, in the image forming material of the preferred embodiment, in the latent image step, only the first layer is irradiated with light, and in the color forming step, the first layer and the second layer are brought into contact with each other. Heat may be applied (integrating the imaging material).

In the recording layer, the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent can be prepared by various known dispersion methods described in JP-A-07-104448 (column 71, line 3 to column 72, line 11). By utilizing it, it can be introduced into the recording layer. For example, it is preferable to use an oil-in-water dispersion method in which the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent are dissolved in a high-boiling organic solvent (a low-boiling organic solvent is used in combination if necessary) and emulsified and dispersed in a gelatin aqueous solution. . Details of the oil-in-water dispersion method are described in US Pat. No. 2,322,027, and the method can be preferably used. The high-boiling organic solvent, as a high-boiling organic solvent that can be used in the oil-in-water dispersion method described above, phthalic acid esters (for example, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. , Decyl phthalate, bis (2,
4-di-tert-amylphenyl) isophthalate,
Bis (1,1-diethylpropyl) phthalate), phosphoric acid or phosphonic acid esters (for example, diphenyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, dioctyl butyl phosphate, tricyclohexyl phosphate, tri- 2-ethylhexyl phosphate, tridodecyl phosphate, di-2-ethylhexyl phenyl phosphate), benzoic acid ester acid (for example, 2-ethylhexyl benzoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, dodecyl benzoate, 2-ethylhexyl-p-hydroxybenzoate),

Amides (eg, N, N-diethyldodecaneamide, N, N-diethyllaurylamide), alcohols (isostearyl alcohol, etc.), aliphatic esters (eg, dibutoxyethyl succinate, disuccinate) -2-ethylhexyl, 2-hexyldecyl tetradecanoate, tributyl citrate, diethyl azelate,
Isostearyl lactate, trioctyl citrate), aniline derivatives (N, N-dibutyl-2-butoxy-5-tert-octylaniline, etc.), chlorinated paraffins (paraffins having a chlorine content of 10% to 80%), Trimesic acid esters (eg, tributyl trimesate), dodecylbenzene, diisopropylnaphthalene, phenols (eg, 2,4-di-tert)
-Amylphenol, 4-dodecyloxyphenol,
4-dodecyloxycarbonylphenol, 4- (4-
Dodecyloxyphenylsulfonyl) phenol), carboxylic acids (eg, 2- (2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxybutyric acid, 2-ethoxyoctanedecanoic acid)), alkylphosphoric acids (eg, di-2 (ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid) , Diphenylphosphoric acid) and the like.
Further, as an auxiliary solvent, an organic solvent having a boiling point of 30 ° C. or higher and about 160 ° C. or lower (eg, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl propionate, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone,
2-ethoxyethyl acetate, dimethylformamide) may be used in combination.

Also, US Pat. Nos. 4,555,470 and 4,
No. 536466, No. 4536467, No. 458720
No. 6, No. 4555476, No. 4599296, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-62256, a high-boiling point organic solvent can be used in combination with a low-boiling point organic solvent having a boiling point of 50 ° C. to 160 ° C., if necessary. . Two or more kinds of the above high boiling point organic solvents can be used in combination. The high boiling point organic solvent can be used in a mass ratio of 0 to 2.0 times, preferably 0 to 1.0 times the mass of the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent. Further, when the recording layer contains a binder together with the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent, the high boiling point organic solvent is 1 g per 1 g of the binder.
It is preferably not more than milliliters, more preferably not more than 0.5 ml, most preferably not more than 0.3 ml.

The azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent are described in JP-B-51-39853 and JP-A-51-5994.
It is contained in the recording layer by utilizing the dispersion method using a polymer described in each publication of No. 3 and the method of adding it as a fine particle dispersion described in JP-A No. 62-30242. You can also let it.

When either the azomethine dye precursor or the deprotecting agent is a compound which is substantially insoluble in water, it can be dispersed in the binder in the form of fine particles and contained in the layer. When the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotection agent are hydrophobic compounds, they can be dispersed in a hydrophilic colloid and contained in the layer. When dispersing the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent in the hydrophilic colloid, various surfactants can be used. For example, JP-A-59-157636, (37) to (38)
The surfactants described on page and the surfactants described in the above Research Disclosure can be used.

Regarding the latex dispersion method as one of the polymer dispersion methods, the steps, effects, and specific examples of the latex for impregnation are described in US Pat. No. 4,199,363.
No., West German Patent Application No. (OLS) 2541274, No. 2
It is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 541230, Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-41091, European Patent Publication No. 029104, and the like, and can be used in the present invention. Regarding the dispersion method using an organic solvent-soluble polymer, PCT International Publication No. WO88 / 0072.
No. 3, and can be used in the present invention.

The polymerizable compound and the photopolymerization initiator are
It is preferably contained in the recording layer in the state of being emulsified and dispersed into oil droplets. Two or more polymerizable compounds may be mixed and used in the oil droplets.

The recording layer may contain other additives in addition to the azomethine dye precursor, the deprotecting agent, the polymerizable compound and the photopolymerization initiator. As the additive,
JP-A-07-104448 (column 39 line 50-
Column 70, line 9), JP-A-07-77775 (column 61, line 50 to column 62, line 49), JP-A-07-3
No. 01895 (column 87, line 49 to column 88, line 48), stain inhibitor, JP-A-62-215272.
No. (Page 125, upper right column, second line to page 127, lower left column, last line), JP-A-2-33144 (page 37, lower right column, line 14 to)
Page 38, upper left column, line 11) publication, European Patent No. 0.355.
UV absorbers described in the specification of 600A2 (page 85, lines 22-31), JP-A-07-104448 (70th line).
(Column 10, line 2 to column 71, line 2). The anti-fading agent is preferably a compound represented by the following general formula (6) or the following general formula (7).

[0087]

[Chemical 31]

In the general formula (6), R ⁶⁰ is an alkyl group,
Alkenyl group, aryl group, aralkyl group, heterocyclic group,
It represents a group represented by R ⁶⁸ CO ⁻ , R ⁶⁹ SO ₂ ^— or R ⁷⁰ NHCO ^— . Here, R ^{68 to} R ⁷⁰ each represent an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group. R ⁶¹
And R ⁶² each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkoxy group, or an alkenoxy group, and R ^{63 to} R ⁶⁷ each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group,
It represents an alkenyl group or an aryl group.

[0089]

[Chemical 32]

In the general formula (7), E represents a group of non-metal atoms necessary to form a 5- to 7-membered ring with C and N. In the general formula (7), R ⁷¹ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an acyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfinyl group, an oxy radical group or a hydroxyl group. In the general formula (7), R ⁷² , R ⁷³ , R ⁷⁴ , and R ⁷⁵ each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

The above general formula (6) or the above general formula (7)
The compound represented by the above is preferably contained in an amount of 5 to 200 mol% based on the azomethine dye precursor, and 20 to 10
It is more preferable to contain 0 mol%.

In the image-forming material of the present invention, the support includes, for example, paper, coated paper, laminated paper, synthetic paper, polyethylene terephthalate film, 3 acetate cellulose film, polyethylene film, polystyrene film, polycarbonate film and the like. Examples thereof include metal plates of film, aluminum, zinc, copper and the like, and those obtained by subjecting the surfaces of these supports to various treatments such as surface treatment, undercoating and metal vapor deposition treatment. In addition,
rch Disclosure, Vol. 200, 19
The support described in Item 20036 XVII, December 80 can also be referred to. If necessary, an antihalation layer may be provided on the surface of the support, and a slip layer, an antistatic layer, an anti-curl layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or the like may be provided on the back surface of the support according to the purpose. You can

The image-forming material of the present invention can be used for monochromatic image formation or multicolor image formation. As a constitutional example of the multicolor image forming material, a photopolymerization initiator having a different photosensitizing wavelength from each other on the support, and a dye forming material containing a combination of dyes formed so that the hues of the dyes formed are different from each other are contained. An image forming material in which two or more recording layers are laminated is used. For example, it is possible to develop colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow.
By stacking two recording layers, an image forming material for full color image formation can be obtained. When the image forming material of the present invention has two or more recording layers, an intermediate layer can be provided between the recording layers. Further, a protective layer, a filter layer or the like may be provided on the recording layer.

As the exposure light source used in the latent image forming step, it is needless to say that a light source suitable for the photosensitive wavelength of the photosensitive material contained in the recording layer is selected, and whether or not the image information passes through an electric signal. , The processing speed of the whole system,
It can be selected in consideration of compactness and power consumption. When image information is recorded via an electric signal, a light emitting diode or various lasers may be used as the image exposure device, or various devices (CRT, liquid crystal display, LCD) known as the image display device. Troll luminescence display, electrochromic display, plasma display, etc.) can also be used. In this case, the image information is an image signal obtained from a video camera or an electronic still camera, a television signal represented by Nippon Television Signal Standard (NTSC), an image signal obtained by dividing an original image into a large number of pixels by a scanner or the like. ,
Image signals stored in recording materials such as magnetic tapes and disks can be used.

Upon exposure of a color image, LEDs, lasers, fluorescent tubes, etc. are used in combination according to the color sensitivity of each recording layer, but a plurality of the same may be used in combination or different types may be used in combination. You may use. The color sensitivity of the light-sensitive material is R (red), G (green), B in the photographic field.
(Blue) Photosensitivity is normal, but in recent years, UV, IR, etc. are often used in combination, and the range of use of the light source is expanding. For example, the color sensitivity of the light-sensitive material is (G, R,
IR) or (R, IR (short wave), IR (long wave)), (UV (short wave), UV (medium wave), UV (long wave)), (UV, B, G), etc. Used. The light source may be a combination of different types such as a combination of two LED colors and a laser. The light emitting tube or element may be scanned and exposed by using a single tube or element for each color, or an array tube may be used to increase the exposure speed. Examples of usable arrays include an LED array, a liquid crystal shutter array, and a magneto-optical element shutter array. Further, a light source in which a blue light emitting diode, which has made remarkable progress in recent years, is used and a green light emitting diode or a red light emitting diode is combined can also be used.

The image display device described above is a CRT.
As described above, there are a color display and a monochrome display, but a method of performing exposure several times by combining filters of the monochrome display may be adopted. The existing two-dimensional image display device may be used by making it one-dimensional like FOT, or by dividing one screen into several pieces and using them in combination with scanning.

Various means can be used as the heating means that can be used in the color forming step. For example, JP-A-61-2
A heating element layer may be provided on the surface of the support (the surface on which the recording layer is not provided) as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 94434, and the recording layer may be heated by the heating layer. When the image forming material of the present invention has the heat generating layer, the surface of the support on the side where the recording layer is provided prevents evaporation of moisture and volatile components from the dye forming material and releases heat. It is preferable to cover it with a heat insulating material in order to keep it warm.

As the heating means, there is disclosed in JP-A-61-114.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 7244, heating can be performed using a hot plate, an iron, or a heat roller. Further, as described in JP-A-62-144166, a method of heating by sandwiching a dye forming material between a heat roller and a belt may be used. That is, the recording layer of the image forming material may be brought into contact with a heating element having a surface area equal to or larger than the area of the recording layer to heat the entire surface at the same time, or a heating element having a smaller surface area (heating plate, heating roller, The entire surface may be heated over time by bringing the recording layer into contact with the recording layer and scanning it. Further, in addition to the method of heating by directly contacting the heating element and the recording layer, electromagnetic waves, infrared rays, hot air or the like may be applied to the recording layer to heat them in a non-contact state.

The donation of heat to the recording layer in the coloring step is as follows.
After the light irradiation in the latent image forming step is completed, 0.1
It is preferable to carry out after a lapse of seconds or more. When a heating plate, a heat roller, or a heating drum is used as the heating means in the coloring step, the heating temperature is generally 40 ° C to 250 ° C, preferably 70 ° C to 180 ° C. The heating time is generally between 0.1 seconds and 5 minutes, preferably between 0.1 seconds and 100 seconds, more preferably between 0.5 seconds and 30 seconds.
Seconds, most preferably 1 to 20 seconds. Moreover, you may heat at different temperature twice or more.

In the image forming method, an example in which heat is supplied in the color forming step has been shown. However, depending on the content of the dye forming material in the recording layer, color may be formed by applying pressure, or heat and pressure may be applied. You may make it develop color by donation.

[0101]

EXAMPLES Example 1 <1> Preparation of Azomethine Dye Precursor Encapsulated Microcapsule Dispersion Liquid (1) 4.2 g of an azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-6), 18.4 g of ethyl acetate and tricresyl After dissolving in 4.2 g of phosphate, 14 g of Takenate D-110N (manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), which is an encapsulating agent, was added. This solution was added to a mixed solution of 70 g of 6% phthalated gelatin and 0.34 g of 10% sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate solution, and a homogenizer (manufactured by Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.) was used for 10000
The emulsion was dispersed for 10 minutes by rotation to obtain an emulsion. 54 g of water and 0.62 g of tetraethylenepentamine were added to the obtained emulsion.
Was added and heated to 65 ° C. with stirring, and after 3 hours, the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-6) was encapsulated in the core, and the microcapsules had an average particle diameter of 0.5 μm. A capsule dispersion liquid (1) was prepared.

<2> Preparation of Deprotecting Agent Emulsion (1) 10.5 g of ethyl acetate was mixed with a dye of the following structural formula (a):
06 g and 0.6 of the organic boron compound represented by the following structural formula (b)
g, 4.5 g of a deprotecting agent (exemplary compound 2-13), 4 g of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as a polymerizable compound, and 2 g of the compound of the following structural formula (c) were added and dissolved. Jil phosphate 0.48
g, and Pionin A41C (manufactured by Takemoto Yushi Co., Ltd.)
After adding 1.27 g, the mixture was heated to obtain a uniform mixed solution.

[0103]

[Chemical 33]

The above mixed solution was added to 40 g of an 8% gelatin (# 750 gelatin, manufactured by Nitta Gelatin Co., Ltd.) aqueous solution, and the mixture was emulsified and dispersed by a homogenizer at 10,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The remaining ethyl acetate was evaporated from the obtained emulsion to prepare a deprotecting agent emulsion (1).

<3> Formation of Image Forming Layer The concentration of the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified compound 1-6) is 0.25 mmol / m ² , and the deprotecting agent (Exemplified compound 2-1).
Azomethine dye precursor-encapsulated microcapsule dispersion liquid (1) and a deprotecting agent emulsion (1) were mixed to prepare a coating liquid for an image forming layer so that the concentration of 3) was 0.5 mmol / m ^2. , 100 with coating bar
White polyester base (μm E68 manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.)
L) was applied and dried at 30 ° C. for 10 minutes to form an image forming layer.

<4> Preparation of Coating Liquid for Protective Layer Coating solution for protective layer was prepared by mixing 2.6 g of the following surfactant (1) and 7.7 g of the following surfactant (2) with 113.5 g of 9% gelatin aqueous solution. A liquid was prepared.

[0107]

[Chemical 34]

<5> Preparation of Image-Forming Material On the image-forming layer formed in <3> above, <4>
The coating solution for a protective layer according to <> was applied using a coating bar so that the dry weight was 2.0 g / m ^2, and dried at 30 ° C. for 10 minutes to prepare an image forming material of Example 1.

[Example 2] Example 2 except that the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-6) in <1> of Example 1 was changed to an equimolar amount of the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-29). An image forming material of Example 2 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

[Example 3] Example 3 except that the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-6) in <1> of Example 1 was changed to an equimolar amount of the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-10). An image forming material of Example 3 was prepared in the same manner as in 1.

[Example 4] The azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-6) of <1> in Example 1 was added to an equimolar amount of the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-15) at a concentration of 0. Was changed to 0.5 mmol / m ² , the deprotection agent (exemplified compound 2-13) of <2> was changed to an equimolar deprotection agent (exemplified compound 2-17), and the concentration was changed to 1.0 mmol / m ² . An image forming material of Example 4 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except for the above.

Example 5 Same as Example 4 except that the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-15) in Example 4 was replaced by an equimolar amount of the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-16). Then, the image forming material of Example 5 was produced.

Example 6 Same as Example 4 except that the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-15) in Example 4 was replaced by an equimolar amount of the azomethine dye precursor (Exemplified Compound 1-20). Then, the image forming material of Example 6 was produced.

Example 7 Except that the dye of structural formula (a), the organic boron compound of structural formula (b), and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate were removed from the deprotecting agent emulsion (1) in Example 1. An image forming material of Example 7 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 1 was carried out in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the deprotecting agent (Exemplified Compound 2-13) in Example 2 was changed to equimolar N-methyloctadecylamine. An image forming material was prepared.

Comparative Example 2 The image forming material of Comparative Example 2 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 6 except that the deprotecting agent (Exemplified Compound 2-17) was replaced with equimolar N-methyloctadecylamine. It was made.

[Comparative Example 3] The following compound (A) was used as the azomethine dye precursor, and N- as the deprotecting agent.
Example 1 except that methyloctadecylamine was used
An image forming material of Comparative Example 3 was prepared in the same manner as in.

[0118]

[Chemical 35]

[Comparative Example 4] The following compound (B) was used as the azomethine dye precursor, and N- was used as the deprotecting agent.
Example 1 except that methyloctadecylamine was used
An image forming material of Comparative Example 4 was prepared in the same manner as in.

[0120]

[Chemical 36]

[Image formation and evaluation using image forming materials of Examples and Comparative Examples] (latent image forming step) Obtained Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2
For each image-forming material, the irradiation energy was changed by changing the scanning speed so that the maximum irradiation energy was 15 mJ / cm ² by using a semiconductor laser of 650 nm, and the latent image was exposed in the shape of a step wedge. Formed.

(Coloring Step) When the entire surface of the image forming layer of the image forming material on which the latent image was formed as described above was heated for 10 seconds by a hot plate at 110 ° C., in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1 Magenta was developed, and cyan was developed in Examples 3 to 6 and Comparative Example 2, and a step wedge-shaped image was obtained.

(Fixing Step) Further, the entire surface of the image forming layer was irradiated with light on a high-luminance shear caster of 58000 lvx for 30 seconds. As a result, the entire surface of the image was fixed, and the dye of the photopolymerization initiator was decomposed to become colorless, so that an image with high whiteness of the background portion was obtained.

(Evaluation) Saturation density (D _max ) in the image area and fog (D) in the non-image area (background area) of the obtained fixed image
_min ) was measured by a Macbeth reflection densitometer (RD918). The results are shown in Table 1.

[0125]

[Table 1]

It can be seen that the combination of the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent of the present invention has a high color forming property.

[0127]

According to the dye forming material of the present invention and the image forming material using the same, a dye can be formed efficiently at low cost. Further, according to the image forming method using the image forming material, it is possible to form an image at low cost by a simple operation without requiring liquid treatment.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) B41M 5/26 SF term (reference) 2H025 AA04 AB20 AC01 AC08 AD01 DA10 FA22 FA26 FA29 2H026 AA07 AA25 AA32 BB48 DD01 DD43 DD53 2H111 HA13 HA35

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An azomethine dye precursor represented by the following general formula (1) and a deprotecting agent represented by the following general formula (2) which acts on the azomethine dye precursor to form an azomethine dye. A dye-forming material characterized by the above. [Chemical 1] [In the formula, Ar represents an aromatic ring or a heterocycle which may have a substituent. Cp represents a coupler residue, which may or may not form a ring. L ¹ represents the following structural formula (1). L ² represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent which is released in the process of dye formation. ] [Chemical 2] [In the formula, X represents O, S or SO ₂ , and R ¹ and R ² represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent. ] [Chemical 3] [In the formula, A represents an atomic group having a monovalent to trivalent positive charge, and B represents an atomic group having a negative charge that neutralizes the charge of A. p and q represent an integer of 1 to 6. ] 2. The dye-forming material according to claim 1, wherein B in the general formula (2) is an atomic group represented by the following general formula (3) or general formula (4). [Chemical 4] [In the formula, X, Y, and Z represent O or S. R ¹ and R ² represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. ] 3. The dye forming material according to claim 1, wherein the image forming layer further contains a photopolymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound. 4. An image forming material having at least one support and a recording layer comprising one or more layers formed on the support, the recording layer according to claim 1 or 2. An image-forming material containing a dye-forming material. 5. An image-forming material having at least one support and a recording layer comprising one or more layers formed on the support, wherein the recording layer comprises the dye-forming material according to claim 3. An image forming material characterized by containing. 6. An image-forming heat is applied to a recording layer containing the image-forming material according to claim 4 to promote the reaction between the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent to form an azomethine dye. A characteristic image forming method. 7. A step of forming a latent image by irradiating the recording layer containing the image-forming material according to claim 5 with light in an imagewise manner to cure the polymerizable compound in the light-irradiated area and forming a latent image. A color forming step of forming a azomethine dye by applying heat to the formed recording layer to accelerate the reaction between the azomethine dye precursor and the deprotecting agent. 8. The image forming method according to claim 7, further comprising a fixing step of fixing the image by irradiating the entire surface of the image forming layer with light.