JP5159128B2 - Merocyanine compound, optical filter and optical recording material using the compound - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel merocyanine compound, an optical filter using the merocyanine compound, and an optical recording material. The compound is contained in an optical recording material used in an optical recording layer of an optical recording medium to be recorded and reproduced by a laser beam, and a light absorber contained in an optical filter for an image display device, in particular, an optical element. Useful as an agent.

  A compound having a strong absorption in the range of 450 nm to 1100 nm, particularly a compound having a maximum absorption (λmax) of 480 to 620 nm, an optical recording layer of an optical recording medium such as DVD ± R, a liquid crystal display (LCD), It is used as an optical element in an optical filter for an image display device such as a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescence display (ELD), a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a fluorescent display tube, and a field emission display.

  For example, as an application of the optical element in the image display device, there is a light absorber for a color filter. The image display device displays a color image with a combination of light of the three primary colors of red, blue and green, but the light for displaying the color image has a display quality such as 550 to 600 nm between green and red. The light that causes the decrease is also included, and the light that causes the malfunction of the infrared remote controller of 750 to 1100 nm is also included. Therefore, an optical filter containing a light absorbing compound (light absorber) that selectively absorbs light of these unnecessary wavelengths is used.

Furthermore, the optical filter is also required to have a function of preventing reflection or reflection of external light such as a fluorescent lamp. In order to prevent reflection and reflection, the optical filter needs to absorb light having a wavelength of 480 to 500 nm in addition to the function of selectively absorbing light having the unnecessary wavelength. The light in this region is close to the bright line necessary for image display. Therefore, in order not to affect the image quality, it is required that the light absorption of the light absorber is particularly steep, that is, the half width of λmax is small.
The light absorber is also required not to lose its function due to light or heat.

  As an optical filter containing a light absorber, for example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses an optical filter using a dipyrromethene metal chelate compound having a maximum absorption wavelength at 440 to 510 nm. An optical filter using a porphyrin compound having a maximum absorption wavelength at 440 to 510 nm is disclosed. However, the compounds used in these optical filters have not achieved satisfactory performance in terms of absorption wavelength characteristics or affinity with solvents or binder resins. Therefore, these optical filters did not exhibit sufficient performance at 480 to 500 nm.

  In the optical recording medium described above, the wavelength of the semiconductor laser used for recording and reproduction is 750 to 830 nm for CD-R and 620 to 690 nm for DVD ± R. Therefore, an optical disk using a short wavelength laser has been studied. For example, an optical disk using light of 380 to 420 nm as recording light is being studied.

  In an optical recording medium for short wavelength recording light, various compounds are used for forming an optical recording layer. For example, Patent Documents 3 to 5 report optical recording materials containing a merocyanine compound having a specific structure. However, these compounds have a problem in thermal decomposition characteristics as an optical recording material used for forming an optical recording layer. High-speed recording requires low thermal interference, and suitable optical recording materials include those with low decomposition temperatures and those with slow thermal decomposition, but each merocyanine compound reported above is It did not have sufficient characteristics.

JP 2003-57436 A JP 2004-45887 A JP 2004-195765 A Special table 2004-525800 gazette JP 2005-505092 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is excellent in absorption wavelength characteristics and thermal decomposition characteristics, and in particular, a novel compound suitable for an optical element used for an optical filter for an image display device and an optical recording material for laser light recording, An object is to provide an optical filter and an optical recording material using the compound.

  As a result of repeated studies, the present inventors have found that a novel merocyanine compound having a specific structure is excellent in absorption wavelength characteristics and thermal decomposition characteristics, and that the above problems can be solved by using this compound. I found out.

The present invention has been made based on the above findings, and has achieved the above object by providing a merocyanine compound represented by the following general formula ( V ).

（式中、Ｒ ⁵ 、Ｒ⁶ 及びＲ ⁷ は、各々独立に、水素原子、水酸基、炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜３０のアリール基、炭素原子数７〜３０のアリールアルキル基、炭素原子数２〜３０の複素環基、メタロセニル基、ハロゲン原子、ニトロ基又はシアノ基を表し、Ｒ³は、水素原子、炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜３０のアリール基、炭素原子数７〜３０のアリールアルキル基、炭素原子数２〜３０の複素環基又は下記一般式（II）で表される置換基を表し、ｎは、０〜３の数であり、Ｒ ³ とＲ ⁶ は連結して環構造を形成してもよい。Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、及びＲ ⁷ で表される炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基中のメチレン基は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＳＯ₂−、−ＮＨ−、−ＣＯＮＨ−、−ＮＨＣＯ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−又は−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ―で置換されていてもよい。
環Ａは、五員環又は六員環を表す。前記五員環又は六員環は、他の環と縮合されていたり、置換されていたりしてもよい。Ｒ ¹⁴ は、水素原子、水酸基、炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜３０のアリール基、炭素原子数７〜３０のアリールアルキル基、炭素原子数２〜３０の複素環基、メタロセニル基、ハロゲン原子、ニトロ基又はシアノ基を表し、Ｒ ¹⁴ で表される炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基中のメチレン基は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＳＯ ₂ −、−ＮＨ−、−ＣＯＮＨ−、−ＮＨＣＯ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−又は−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ―で置換されていてもよい。環Ｂは、ベンゼン環又はナフタレンを表し、ｓは１〜５の数である。）

( Wherein R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms. An arylalkyl group, a heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, a metallocenyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a cyano group, R ³ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or 6 carbon atoms. Represents an aryl group having ˜30, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, a heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, or a substituent represented by the following general formula (II), and n is 0 to 3 is a number, R ³ and R ⁶ may form a ring structure linked ^{.R 3, R 5, R 6} , and methylene in the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ⁷ groups, -O -, - S -, - CO -, - COO -, - OCO -, - SO 2 -, - NH-, CONH -, - NHCO -, - N = CH- or -CH = CH- may be substituted with.
Ring A represents a 5-membered ring or a 6-membered ring. The 5-membered ring or 6-membered ring may be condensed or substituted with another ring. R ¹⁴ is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms. Represents a metallocenyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a cyano group, and the methylene group in the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ¹⁴ is -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO. -, - OCO -, - SO 2 -, - NH -, - CONH -, - NHCO -, - N = CH- or -CH = CH- may be substituted with. Ring B represents a benzene ring or naphthalene, and s is a number from 1 to 5. )

（式中、Ｒ^a〜Ｒⁱは、各々独立に、水素原子又は炭素原子数１〜４のアルキル基を表し、該アルキル基中のメチレン基は、−Ｏ−又は−ＣＯ−で置換されていてもよく、Ｚは、直接結合又は炭素原子数１〜８のアルキレン基を表し、該アルキレン基中のメチレン基は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＳＯ₂−、−ＮＨ−、−ＣＯＮＨ−、−ＮＨＣＯ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−又は−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−で置換されていてもよく、Ｍは、Ｆｅ、Ｃｏ、Ｎｉ、Ｔｉ、Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｚｒ、Ｃｒ、Ｍｏ、Ｏｓ、Ｍｎ、Ｒｕ、Ｓｎ、Ｐｄ、Ｒｈ、Ｐｔ又はＩｒを表す。）

(Wherein, R ^{a to} R ⁱ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the methylene group in the alkyl group is substituted with —O— or —CO—). Z represents a direct bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and the methylene group in the alkylene group is -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -OCO-. , —SO ₂ —, —NH—, —CONH—, —NHCO—, —N═CH— or —CH═CH—, where M is Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, Cu, Zn, Zr, Cr, Mo, Os, Mn, Ru, Sn, Pd, Rh, Pt or Ir are represented.)

Moreover, this invention achieves the said objective by providing the optical filter characterized by including at least 1 type of merocyanine compound represented by the said general formula ( V ).

Moreover, this invention achieves the said objective by providing the optical recording material characterized by including the merocyanine compound represented by the said general formula ( V ) at least 1 type.

  In addition, the present invention achieves the above object by providing an optical recording medium having an optical recording layer formed of the above optical recording material on a substrate.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel merocyanine compound which is excellent in absorption wavelength characteristics and thermal decomposition characteristics and suitable for optical elements. The optical filter using the merocyanine compound is suitable as an optical filter for image display, and the optical recording material containing the merocyanine compound is preferably used for forming an optical recording layer of an optical recording medium. It is done.

  Hereinafter, the merocyanine compound of the present invention, and an optical filter and an optical recording material containing the compound will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments.

First, the merocyanine compound represented by the above general formula of the present invention will be described.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ , R ⁸ and R ⁹ in the general formula (I) include methyl, ethyl, Propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, amyl, isoamyl, tert-amyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, cyclohexylethyl, heptyl, isoheptyl, tert-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, tertiary Octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl and the like, and examples of the aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ It is phenyl, naphthyl, anthracene-1-yl, phenanthrene-1-yl and the like, represented by ^{R 1, R 2, R 3} , R 5, R 6, R 7 and R ⁸ That the aryl alkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, benzyl, phenethyl, 2-phenylpropane, diphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, styryl, cinnamyl and the ^{like, R 1, R 2, R} 5, R 6, Examples of the halogen atom represented by R ⁷ and R ⁸ include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

Examples of the heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ in the general formula (I) include pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazyl, Piperazyl, piperidyl, pyranyl, pyrazolyl, triazyl, pyrrolidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, triazolyl, furyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thienyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, isothiazolyl , Isoxazolyl, indolyl, urolidyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, 2-pyrrolidinon-1-yl, 2-piperidone-1-yl, 2,4-dioxyimidazolidin-3-yl, 2,4-dioxyoxazolidine -3-yl and the like, and examples of the metallocenyl group represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ include ferrocenyl, nickelocenyl, cobaltyl, ferrocene alkyl, ferrocene alkoxy and the like. .

In the general formula (I), R ¹ and R ² , R ² and R ³ , R ³ and R ⁶ , R ⁶ and R ⁸ and R ⁸ and R ⁹ are linked to form a ring structure such as a piperidine ring, Piperazine ring, pyrrolidine ring, morpholine ring, thiomorpholine ring, pyridine ring, pyrazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, triazine ring, quinoline ring, isoquinoline ring, imidazole ring, oxazole ring, imidazolidine ring, pyrazolidine ring, iso Oxazolidine ring, iminooxazolidine ring, isothiazolidine ring, rhodanine ring, thiooxazolidone ring, thiohydantoin ring, indandione ring, thianaphthene ring, pyrazolone ring, pyridone ring, pyrazolidinedione ring, rhodanine ring, barbituric acid ring, thiol Barbituric acid ring, oxazolone ring, hydantoin ring, thiohydantoin ring, sushi Imide ring, a maleimide ring, and these rings or be fused with other ring or may or substituted.

Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms represented by R ^{a to} R ⁱ in the general formula (II) include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl and the like. Examples of the group in which the methylene group in the alkyl group is substituted with -O- include methoxy, ethoxy, propyloxy, isopropyloxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, 2-methoxyethyl and the like. Examples of the group in which the methylene group is substituted with -CO- include acetyl, 1-carbonylethyl, acetylmethyl, 1-carbonylpropyl, 2-oxobutyl, 2-acetylethyl, 1-carbonylisopropyl and the like. Examples of the alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms include methylene, ethylene, propylene, methylethylene, and Tylene, 1-methylpropylene, 2-methylpropylene, 1,2-dimethylpropylene, 1,3-dimethylpropylene, 1-methylbutylene, 2-methylbutylene, 3-methylbutylene, 4-methylbutylene, 2,4- Examples include dimethylbutylene, 1,3-dimethylbutylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, ethane-1,1-diyl, propane-2,2-diyl and the like, and the methylene group in the alkylene group is —O—. , —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —SO ₂ —, —NH—, —CONH—, —NHCO—, —N═CH— or —CH═CH— As methyleneoxy, ethyleneoxy, oxymethylene, thiomethylene, carbonylmethylene, carbonyloxymethylene, methylenecarbonyloxy Sulfonylamino methylene, aminomethylene, acetylamino, ethylene carboxamide, ethane imide-yl, ethenylene, propenylene, and the like.

Examples of the halogen atom represented by R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ in the general formula (III) include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and the like. R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ in the alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms represented, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, secondary butyl, tertiary butyl, isobutyl and the like, carbon atoms represented by R ¹⁰ 1 the ~ 4 alkoxy group, methyloxy, ethyloxy, propyloxy, isopropyloxy, butyloxy, second butyloxy, tertiary butyloxy, iso-butyloxy, and the like, as a ring structure and R ¹¹ and R ¹³ is formed by linking Are the groups exemplified as the ring structure formed by linking R ¹ and R ² , R ² and R ³ , R ³ and R ⁶ , R ⁶ and R ⁸ and R ⁸ and R ⁹ in the general formula (I). Is mentioned.

In the group represented by [Chemical Formula 4], examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R and R ′ include the groups exemplified in the general formula (I).
In addition, as the aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and the arylalkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms represented by R and R ′, among the groups exemplified in the general formula (I), the number of carbon atoms Is a group satisfying a predetermined range.

An alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ , R ⁸ and R ⁹ in the general formula (I), R ¹ , R ² , An aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms represented by R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ ; represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ The arylalkyl group having ^{7 to} 30 carbon atoms and the heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms represented by R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁸ are: It may have a substituent. Examples of the substituent include the following. R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ , R ⁸ and R ⁹ are groups containing carbon atoms such as the above alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and When these groups have a substituent containing a carbon atom among the following substituents, the total number of carbon atoms including the substituent shall satisfy the specified range.
Examples of the substituent include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, amyl, isoamyl, tert-amyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, 2-hexyl, and 3-hexyl. , Alkyl groups such as cyclohexyl, bicyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, heptyl, 2-heptyl, 3-heptyl, isoheptyl, tertiary heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, tertiary octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl Methyloxy, ethyloxy, propyloxy, isopropyloxy, butyloxy, sec-butyloxy, tert-butyloxy, isobutyloxy, amyloxy, isoamyloxy, tert-amyloxy, hexyloxy, cyclohexyloxy, hex Alkoxy groups such as tiloxy, isoheptyloxy, tertiary heptyloxy, n-octyloxy, isooctyloxy, tertiary octyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy; methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, isopropylthio, butylthio, Dibutylthio, tert-butylthio, isobutylthio, amylthio, isoamylthio, tert-amylthio, hexylthio, cyclohexylthio, heptylthio, isoheptylthio, tert-heptylthio, n-octylthio, isooctylthio, tert-octylthio, 2-ethylhexylthio, etc. Alkylthio group; vinyl, 1-methylethenyl, 2-methylethenyl, 2-propenyl, 1-methyl-3-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, isobutenyl , Alkenyl groups such as 3-pentenyl, 4-hexenyl, cyclohexenyl, bicyclohexenyl, heptenyl, octenyl, decenyl, pentadecenyl, eicosenyl, tricosenyl; arylalkyls such as benzyl, phenethyl, diphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, styryl, cinnamyl Groups; aryl groups such as phenyl and naphthyl; aryloxy groups such as phenoxy and naphthyloxy; arylthio groups such as phenylthio and naphthylthio; pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazyl, piperidyl, pyranyl, pyrazolyl, triazyl, pyrrolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, imidazolyl, Benzimidazolyl, triazolyl, furyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thienyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, Benzothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, indolyl, 2-pyrrolidinon-1-yl, 2-piperidone-1-yl, 2,4-dioxyimidazolidin-3-yl, 2,4-dioxy Heterocyclic groups such as oxazolidin-3-yl; halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine; acetyl, 2-chloroacetyl, propionyl, octanoyl, acryloyl, methacryloyl, phenylcarbonyl (benzoyl), phthaloyl, 4-trifluoro Acyl groups such as methylbenzoyl, pivaloyl, salicyloyl, oxaloyl, stearoyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, n-octadecyloxycarbonyl, carbamoyl; acetyloxy, benzoylo An acyloxy group such as amino; amino, ethylamino, dimethylamino, diethylamino, butylamino, cyclopentylamino, 2-ethylhexylamino, dodecylamino, anilino, chlorophenylamino, toluidino, anisidino, N-methyl-anilino, diphenylamino, naphthylamino; 2-pyridylamino, methoxycarbonylamino, phenoxycarbonylamino, acetylamino, benzoylamino, formylamino, pivaloylamino, lauroylamino, carbamoylamino, N, N-dimethylaminocarbonylamino, N, N-diethylaminocarbonylamino, morpholinocarbonylamino , Methoxycarbonylamino, ethoxycarbonylamino, t-butoxycarbonylamino, n-octadecyloxycarbo Substituted amino groups such as ruamino, N-methyl-methoxycarbonylamino, phenoxycarbonylamino, sulfamoylamino, N, N-dimethylaminosulfonylamino, methylsulfonylamino, butylsulfonylamino, phenylsulfonylamino; sulfonamide group, sulfonyl Group, carboxyl group, cyano group, sulfo group, hydroxyl group, nitro group, mercapto group, imide group, carbamoyl group, sulfonamide group, phosphoric acid group and the like, and these groups may be further substituted. Moreover, acidic groups, such as a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, and a phosphoric acid group, may form a salt.

  Among the merocyanine compounds represented by the general formula (I), a merocyanine compound represented by the following general formula (IV) is preferable because of low production cost and excellent absorption wavelength characteristics and thermal decomposition characteristics.

（式中、環Ａは、五員環又は六員環を表す。前記五員環又は六員環は、他の環と縮合されていたり、置換されていたりしてもよい。Ｒ¹、Ｒ²、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁴、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じである。）

(In the formula, ring A represents a 5-membered ring or a 6-membered ring. The 5-membered ring or 6-membered ring may be condensed or substituted with another ring. R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as those in the general formula (I).

  The five-membered ring represented by ring A in the general formula (IV) includes a cyclopentadiene ring, a pyrrole ring, a furan ring, a thiophene ring, a pyrazolidine ring, a pyrazole ring, an imidazole ring, an imidazolidine ring, an oxazole ring, and an isoxazole ring. , Isoxazolidine ring, thiazole ring, isothiazolidine ring, rhodanine ring, thiooxazolidone ring, thiohydantoin ring, pyrazolone ring, and the like. As the six-membered ring represented by ring A, a benzene ring, piperidine ring, piperazine ring , A morpholine ring, a thiomorpholine ring, a urolidine ring, a pyridine ring, a pyrazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, a pyridazine ring, a triazine ring and the like, and the 5-membered ring or the 6-membered ring represented by the ring A is another ring. May be condensed or substituted with, for example, quinoline ring, isoquinoline , Indole ring, urolidine ring, naphthalene ring, anthracene ring, phenanthrene ring, anthraquinone ring, phenylbenzene ring, benzothiophene ring, benzoxazole ring, benzotriazole ring, azulene ring, phthalimide ring, indandione ring, thianaphthene ring, etc. It is done.

  Among the merocyanine compounds represented by the above general formula (IV), the merocyanine compound represented by the following general formula (V) or (VI) is low in production cost and excellent in absorption wavelength characteristics and thermal decomposition characteristics. More preferred.

（式中、Ｒ¹⁴は、水素原子、水酸基、炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜３０のアリール基、炭素原子数７〜３０のアリールアルキル基、炭素原子数２〜３０の複素環基、メタロセニル基、ハロゲン原子、ニトロ基又はシアノ基を表し、Ｒ¹⁴で表される炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基中のメチレン基は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＳＯ₂−、−ＮＨ−、−ＣＯＮＨ−、−ＮＨＣＯ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−又は−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ―で置換されていてもよい。環Ｂは、ベンゼン環又はナフタレンを表し、ｓは１〜５の数である。Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ａは、上記一般式（IV）と同じである。）

(In the formula, R ¹⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or 2 to 30 carbon atoms. Represents a heterocyclic group, a metallocenyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a cyano group, and the methylene group in the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ¹⁴ is -O-, -S-, -CO. -, - COO -, - OCO -, - SO 2 -, - NH -, - CONH -, - NHCO -, -. N = CH- or -CH = CH- with optionally substituted ring B, Represents a benzene ring or naphthalene, and s is a number from 1 to 5. R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as in the above general formula (I), and ring A is the above general formula Same as (IV).)

（式中、Ｒ¹⁵、Ｒ¹⁶及びＲ¹⁷は水素原子、ハロゲン原子又はハロゲン原子で置換されてもよい炭素原子数１〜４のアルキル基を表し、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ａは、上記一般式（IV）と同じであり、環Ｂは、上記一般式（V）と同じである。）

(Wherein R ¹⁵ , R ¹⁶ and R ¹⁷ represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may be substituted with a halogen atom, R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ^7. And n are the same as those in the general formula (I), the ring A is the same as the general formula (IV), and the ring B is the same as the general formula (V).

In the general formula (V), the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, the arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, and the 2 to 30 carbon atoms represented by R ^14. Examples of the heterocyclic group, metallocenyl group, and halogen atom include the groups exemplified in the description of the general formula (I).

Examples of the halogen atom represented by R ¹⁵ , R ¹⁶ and R ¹⁷ in the general formula (VI) include the groups exemplified in the description of the general formula (I), and are represented by R ¹⁵ , R ¹⁶ and R ^17. Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms include the groups exemplified in the description of the general formula (II).

（式中、Ｘ¹、Ｘ²及びＸ³は、各々独立に、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−Ｃ（＝Ｏ）−、−Ｃ（＝Ｓ）−、−Ｎ（Ｒ³¹）−、−Ｃ（Ｒ³²）（Ｒ³³）−、−Ｎ＝、−Ｃ（Ｒ³³）＝又は下記〔化９〕又は〔化１０〕で表される基を表し、Ｘ¹とＸ²及びＸ²とＸ³の間の結合は、単結合、二重結合又は共役二重結合であり、Ｒ³¹、Ｒ³²及びＲ³³は、各々独立に、水素原子、炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜３０のアリール基又は炭素原子数７〜３０のアリールアルキル基を表し、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ａは、上記一般式（IV）と同じであり、Ｒ¹⁴、ｓ及び環Ｂは、上記一般式（Ｖ）と同じである。） Among the merocyanine compounds represented by the general formula (V), merocyanine compounds represented by the following general formula (VII), (VIII) or (IX) are more preferable.

Wherein X ¹ , X ² and X ³ are each independently —O—, —S—, —C (═O) —, —C (═S) —, —N (R ³¹ ) —, -C (R ³² ) (R ³³ )-, -N =, -C (R ³³ ) = or a group represented by the following [Chemical 9] or [Chemical 10], X ¹ , X ² and X ² And X ³ are a single bond, a double bond or a conjugated double bond, and R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, Represents an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, and R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as those in the general formula (I), A is the same as in the general formula (IV), and R ¹⁴ , s, and ring B are the same as in the general formula (V).)

（式中、Ｒ³⁴及びＲ³⁵は、各々独立に、炭素原子数１〜４のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜１２のアリール基又は炭素原子数７〜１３のアリールアルキル基を表す。）

(In the formula, R ³⁴ and R ³⁵ each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group having 7 to 13 carbon atoms.)

（式中、Ｘ⁴、Ｘ⁵、Ｘ⁶及びＸ⁷は、それぞれ独立に、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−Ｃ（＝Ｏ）−、−Ｃ（＝Ｓ）−、−Ｎ（Ｒ³¹）−、−Ｃ（Ｒ³²）（Ｒ³³）−、−Ｎ＝、−Ｃ（Ｒ³³）＝又は上記〔化９〕又は〔化１０〕で表される基を表し、Ｘ⁴とＸ⁵、Ｘ⁵とＸ⁶及びＸ⁶とＸ⁷の間の結合は、単結合、二重結合又は共役二重結合であり、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ａは、上記一般式（IV）と同じであり、Ｒ¹⁴、ｓ及び環Ｂは、上記一般式（Ｖ）と同じであり、Ｒ³¹、Ｒ³²及びＲ³³は、上記一般式（VII）と同じである。）

(Wherein X ⁴ , X ⁵ , X ⁶ and X ⁷ are each independently —O—, —S—, —C (═O) —, —C (═S) —, —N (R ³¹ )-, -C (R ³² ) (R ³³ )-, -N =, -C (R ³³ ) = or a group represented by the above [Chemical 9] or [Chemical 10], and X ⁴ and X ⁵ , X ⁵ and X ⁶ and X ⁶ and X ⁷ are single bonds, double bonds, or conjugated double bonds, and R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are represented by the above general formula Same as (I), ring A is the same as the above general formula (IV), R ¹⁴ , s and ring B are the same as the above general formula (V), and R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ is the same as the above general formula (VII).)

（式中、Ｘ⁸は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−Ｃ（＝Ｏ）−、−Ｃ（＝Ｓ）−、−Ｎ（Ｒ³¹）−、―Ｃ（Ｒ³²）（Ｒ³³）−又は上記〔化９〕又は〔化１０〕で表される基を表し、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ａは、上記一般式（IV）と同じであり、Ｒ¹⁴、ｓ及び環Ｂは、上記一般式（Ｖ）と同じであり、Ｒ³¹、Ｒ³²及びＲ³³は、上記一般式（VII）と同じである。）

(In the formula, X ⁸ represents —O—, —S—, —C (═O) —, —C (═S) —, —N (R ³¹ ) —, —C (R ³² ) (R ³³ )). -Or a group represented by the above [Chemical 9] or [Chemical 10], wherein R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as those in the above general formula (I), and ring A is The same as in the general formula (IV), R ¹⁴ , s and ring B are the same as in the general formula (V), and R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ are the same as in the general formula (VII). is there.)

In the general formula (VII), an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ which is a group in X ¹ , X ² and X ³ , and having 6 to 30 carbon atoms. Examples of the aryl group or the arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms include the groups exemplified in the description of the general formula (I).
In the group represented by [Chemical Formula 10], examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms represented by R ³⁴ and R ³⁵ include the groups exemplified in the description of the general formula (II).
Moreover, in the said general formula (VIII), the C1-C10 alkyl group and carbon atom which are represented by R ^{< 31>} , R ^<32> and R ^<33 > which are groups in X < ⁴ >, X < ⁵ >, X < ⁶ > and X < ⁷ >. Examples of the aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or the arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms include the groups exemplified in the description of the general formula (I).

（式中、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ｂは、上記一般式（V）と同じであり、Ｒ¹⁵、Ｒ¹⁶及びＲ¹⁷は、上記一般式（VI）と同じであり、Ｘ¹、Ｘ²及びＸ³は、上記一般式（VII）と同じである。） Among the compounds represented by the general formula (VI), those represented by the following general formula (X), (XI) or (XII) are even more preferable.

(Wherein R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as in the above general formula (I), ring B is the same as in the above general formula (V), and R ¹⁵ , R ¹⁶ And R ¹⁷ are the same as those in the general formula (VI), and X ¹ , X ² and X ³ are the same as those in the general formula (VII).)

（式中、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ｂは、上記一般式（Ｖ）と同じであり、Ｒ¹⁵、Ｒ¹⁶及びＲ¹⁷は、上記一般式（VI）と同じであり、Ｒ³¹、Ｒ³²及びＲ³³は、上記一般式（VII）と同じであり、Ｘ⁴、Ｘ⁵、Ｘ⁶及びＸ⁷は、上記一般式（VIII）と同じである）

(Wherein R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as in the above general formula (I), ring B is the same as in the above general formula (V), and R ¹⁵ , R ¹⁶ And R ¹⁷ are the same as those in the general formula (VI), R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ are the same as those in the general formula (VII), and X ⁴ , X ⁵ , X ⁶ and X ⁷ are (Same as general formula (VIII) above)

（式中、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じであり、環Ｂは、上記一般式（Ｖ）と同じであり、、Ｒ¹⁵、Ｒ¹⁶及びＲ¹⁷は、上記一般式（ＶI）と同じであり、Ｒ³¹、Ｒ³²及びＲ³³は、上記一般式（VIII）と同じであり、Ｘ⁸は、上記一般式（IX）と同じである）

(Wherein R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ and n are the same as in the above general formula (I), ring B is the same as in the above general formula (V), R ¹⁵ , R ¹⁶ and R ¹⁷ are the same as the above general formula (VI), R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ are the same as the above general formula (VIII), and X ⁸ is the same as the above general formula (IX). Is)

  Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (I) of the present invention include the following compound No. 1-33. In the compound of the present invention, the double bond may have a resonance structure.

  The compound represented by the above general formula (I) is not particularly limited by its production method, and can be obtained by a method utilizing a known general reaction. For example, when G is an oxygen atom and n = 1, the compound having active methylene as a reaction product of an indolenine quaternary salt and an amidine compound as shown in the following reaction formula [Chemical Formula 20] It can synthesize | combine by the method of reacting. Even when n = 2 or 3, it can be produced according to the following production method.

（式中、Ｒ²¹及びＲ²²は、炭素原子数１〜１０のアルキル基、炭素原子数６〜３０のアリール基又は炭素原子数７〜３０のアリールアルキル基を表し、Ａｎ^q-はｑ価のアニオンを表し、ｑは１又は２であり、ｐは電荷を中性に保つ係数を表し、Ｒ¹、Ｒ²、Ｒ³、Ｒ⁴、Ｒ⁵、Ｒ⁶、Ｒ⁷、Ｒ⁸、Ｒ⁹及びｎは、上記一般式（Ｉ）と同じである。）

(Wherein R ²¹ and R ²² represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, and An ^q− represents q valence. Q is 1 or 2, p is a coefficient to keep the charge neutral, R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ , R ⁸ , R ⁹ and n are the same as those in the general formula (I).)

The merocyanine compound of the present invention described above is suitable as an optical element for light in the range of 450 nm to 1100 nm, particularly as an optical element for light in the range of 480 to 620 nm. The optical element is an element that exhibits a function by absorbing specific light, and specifically includes a light absorbent, an optical recording agent, a photosensitizer, and the like.
For example, the light absorbing agent is used for an optical filter for an image display device or the like, and the optical recording agent is used for an optical recording layer in an optical recording medium such as DVD ± R.

  Next, the optical filter of the present invention containing at least one merocyanine compound represented by the above general formula (I) of the present invention will be described below.

  When used for an image display device, the optical filter of the present invention is usually disposed on the front surface of a display. For example, the optical filter of the present invention may be directly attached to the surface of the display. When a front plate is provided in front of the display, the optical filter is provided on the front side (outside) or the back side (display side) of the front plate. May be pasted.

  Examples of the image display device include a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescence display (ELD), a cathode tube display device (CRT), a fluorescent display tube, and a field emission display. Be

In the optical filter of the present invention, the amount of the merocyanine compounds of the invention, especially when used as image display apparatus, per unit area of the optical filter, typically 1 to 1000 mg / m ^2, preferably 5 to 100 mg / m ² is there. If the amount used is less than 1 mg / m ² , the light absorption effect cannot be sufficiently exerted, and if it is used in excess of 1000 mg / m ² , the color of the filter becomes too strong and the display quality is lowered. There is also a possibility that the brightness may be lowered.

  When used for an image display device, the optical filter of the present invention uses a light absorber other than the compound of the present invention for color tone adjustment or the like, or prevents reflection or reflection of external light. You may use the light absorber corresponding to 480 nm-500 nm other than the compound of invention. Further, when the image display device is a plasma display, a near infrared absorber corresponding to 750 to 1100 nm may be used.

  Examples of the light absorber for color tone adjustment include trimethine indolium compounds, trimethine benzoxazolium compounds, trimethine benzothiazolium compounds, and the like used for removing orange light of 550 to 600 nm, for example. Trimethine cyanine derivatives; pentamethine cyanine derivatives such as pentamethine oxazolium compounds and pentamethine thiazolium compounds; squarylium dye derivatives; azomethine dye derivatives; xanthene dye derivatives; azo dye derivatives; pyromethene dye derivatives; azo metal complex derivatives : Rhodamine dye derivative; phthalocyanine derivative; porphyrin derivative; dipyrromethene metal chelate compound.

  In addition, as the above-mentioned light absorbing agent corresponding to 480 to 500 nm for preventing reflection of external light, trimethine indolium compound, trimethine oxazolium compound, trimethine thiazolium compound, indolidene trimethine thiazonium compound, etc. Trimethine cyanine derivatives; phthalocyanine derivatives; naphthalocyanine derivatives; porphyrin derivatives; dipyrromethene metal chelate compounds.

  Further, as a near infrared absorber for 750 to 1100 nm for preventing infrared remote control malfunction, pentaimine derivatives; pentamethine benzoindolium compounds, pentamethine benzoxazolium compounds, pentamethine benzothiazolium compounds, etc. Methine cyanine derivatives; heptamethine such as heptamethine indolium compound, heptamethine benzoindolium compound, heptamethine oxazolium compound, heptamethine benzoxazolium compound, heptamethine thiazolium compound, heptamethine benzothiazolium compound Cyanine derivatives; squarylium derivatives; nickel complexes such as bis (stilbenedithiolato) compounds, bis (benzenedithiolato) nickel compounds, bis (camphagethiolato) nickel compounds; Derivatives; azo dye derivatives; phthalocyanine derivatives; porphyrin derivatives; dipyrromethene metal chelate compounds, and the like.

In the optical filter of the present invention, the light absorber for color tone adjustment, the light absorber for 480 to 500 nm for preventing reflection of external light, and the near-infrared absorber for preventing malfunction of infrared rays are the It may be contained in the same layer as the compound, or may be contained in another layer. Each of which usage per unit area of the optical filter, generally in the range of 1 to 1000 mg / m ^2, preferably from 5 to 100 mg / m ^2.

  A typical configuration of the optical filter of the present invention includes a transparent support provided with various layers such as an undercoat layer, an antireflection layer, a hard coat layer, and a lubricating layer as necessary. Examples of the method for containing the optical filter of the present invention with the merocyanine compound of the present invention, a light absorber that is a dye compound other than the merocyanine compound of the present invention, and various stabilizers in the optical filter of the present invention include (1) a transparent support or (2) A method for coating each transparent layer or any desired layer, (3) A transparent support and any adhesive layer between two adjacent members selected from any desired layer And (4) a method of providing a light absorption layer containing a light absorber such as the compound of the present invention separately from any arbitrary layer. The merocyanine compound of the present invention is suitable for inclusion in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by the method (3) above or in the light absorbing material by the method (4) above.

  Examples of the material for the transparent support include inorganic materials such as glass; cellulose esters such as diacetylcellulose, triacetylcellulose (TAC), propionylcellulose, butyrylcellulose, acetylpropionylcellulose, and nitrocellulose; polyamides; polycarbonates; polyethylenes Polyesters such as terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, poly-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-1,2-diphenoxyethane-4,4′-dicarboxylate, polybutylene terephthalate; polystyrene; polyethylene Polyolefins such as polypropylene and polymethylpentene; Acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate; Polycarbonate; Polysulfo Polyethersulfone; polyetherketone; polyetherimide; polymer materials such as polyoxyethylene and norbornene resin. The transmittance of the transparent support is preferably 80% or more, and more preferably 86% or more. The haze is preferably 2% or less, and more preferably 1% or less. The refractive index is preferably 1.45 to 1.70.

  In the transparent support, an infrared absorber, an ultraviolet absorber, a phenol-based or phosphorus-based antioxidant, a flame retardant, a lubricant, an antistatic agent, inorganic fine particles, and the like can be added as necessary. Moreover, various surface treatments can be applied to the transparent support.

  Examples of the inorganic fine particles include silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, talc, and kaolin.

  Examples of the various surface treatments include chemical treatment, mechanical treatment, corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, ultraviolet irradiation treatment, high frequency treatment, glow discharge treatment, active plasma treatment, laser treatment, mixed acid treatment, ozone oxidation treatment, and the like. It is done.

  The undercoat layer is a layer used between the transparent support and the light absorption layer when a light absorption layer containing a light absorber is provided. The undercoat layer is formed as a layer containing a polymer having a glass transition temperature of −60 to 60 ° C., a layer having a rough surface on the light absorption layer side, or a layer containing a polymer having affinity with the polymer of the light absorption layer. To do. In addition, the undercoat layer is provided on the surface of the transparent support on which the light absorption layer is not provided, thereby improving the adhesive force between the transparent support and the layer provided thereon (for example, an antireflection layer or a hard coat layer). It may be provided in order to improve the affinity between the optical filter and the adhesive for bonding the optical filter and the image display device. The thickness of the undercoat layer is preferably 2 nm to 20 μm, more preferably 5 nm to 5 μm, further preferably 20 nm to 2 μm, still more preferably 50 nm to 1 μm, and most preferably 80 nm to 300 nm. The undercoat layer containing a polymer having a glass transition temperature of −60 to 60 ° C. adheres the transparent support and the filter layer due to the tackiness of the polymer. Polymers having a glass transition temperature of −60 to 60 ° C. are exemplified by polymerization of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl acetate, butadiene, neoprene, styrene, chloroprene, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, acrylonitrile or methyl vinyl ether, or a copolymer thereof. It can be obtained by polymerization. The glass transition temperature is preferably 50 ° C. or lower, more preferably 40 ° C. or lower, further preferably 30 ° C. or lower, further preferably 25 ° C. or lower, and further preferably 20 ° C. or lower. Most preferred. The elastic modulus at 25 ° C. of the undercoat layer is preferably 1 to 1000 MPa, more preferably 5 to 800 MPa, and most preferably 10 to 500 MPa. The undercoat layer having a rough surface of the light absorption layer forms a light absorption layer on the rough surface, thereby bonding the transparent support and the light absorption layer. The undercoat layer whose surface of the light absorption layer is rough can be easily formed by applying a polymer latex. The average particle size of the latex is preferably 0.02 to 3 μm, and more preferably 0.05 to 1 μm. Examples of the polymer having an affinity for the binder polymer of the light absorption layer include acrylic resin, cellulose derivative, gelatin, casein, starch, polyvinyl alcohol, soluble nylon, and polymer latex. The optical filter of the present invention may be provided with two or more undercoat layers. In the undercoat layer, a solvent for swelling the transparent support, a matting agent, a surfactant, an antistatic agent, a coating aid, a hardening agent, and the like may be added.

  In the antireflection layer, a low refractive index layer is essential. The refractive index of the low refractive index layer is lower than the refractive index of the transparent support. The refractive index of the low refractive index layer is preferably 1.20 to 1.55, and more preferably 1.30 to 1.50. The thickness of the low refractive index layer is preferably 50 to 400 nm, and more preferably 50 to 200 nm. The low refractive index layer is a layer made of a fluorine-containing polymer having a low refractive index (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 57-34526, 3-130103, 6-115023, 8-313702, and 7- 168004), a layer obtained by a sol-gel method (described in JP-A-5-208811, JP-A-6-299091, and JP-A-7-168003), or a layer containing fine particles (Japanese Patent Publication No. 60). -59250, JP-A-5-13021, JP-A-6-56478, JP-A-7-92306, and JP-A-9-288201). In the layer containing fine particles, voids can be formed in the low refractive index layer as microvoids between the fine particles or within the fine particles. The layer containing fine particles preferably has a porosity of 3 to 50% by volume, and more preferably has a porosity of 5 to 35% by volume.

  In order to prevent reflection in a wide wavelength region, in the antireflection layer, in addition to the low refractive index layer, a layer having a high refractive index (medium / high refractive index layer) is preferably laminated. The refractive index of the high refractive index layer is preferably 1.65 to 2.40, and more preferably 1.70 to 2.20. The refractive index of the middle refractive index layer is adjusted to be an intermediate value between the refractive index of the low refractive index layer and the refractive index of the high refractive index layer. The refractive index of the medium refractive index layer is preferably 1.50 to 1.90, and more preferably 1.55 to 1.70. The thickness of the middle / high refractive index layer is preferably 5 nm to 100 μm, more preferably 10 nm to 10 μm, and most preferably 30 nm to 1 μm. The haze of the middle / high refractive index layer is preferably 5% or less, more preferably 3% or less, and most preferably 1% or less. The middle / high refractive index layer can be formed using a polymer binder having a relatively high refractive index. Examples of the polymer having a high refractive index include polystyrene, styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, melamine resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane obtained by reaction of cyclic (alicyclic or aromatic) isocyanate and polyol. Polymers having other cyclic (aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic) groups and polymers having a halogen atom other than fluorine as a substituent also have a high refractive index. You may use the polymer formed by the polymerization reaction of the monomer which introduce | transduced the double bond and enabled radical hardening.

  In order to obtain a higher refractive index, inorganic fine particles may be dispersed in the polymer binder. The refractive index of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 1.80 to 2.80. The inorganic fine particles are preferably formed from metal oxides or sulfides. Examples of the metal oxide or sulfide include titanium oxide (for example, rutile, rutile / anatase mixed crystal, anatase, amorphous structure), tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, and zinc sulfide. Among these, titanium oxide, tin oxide, and indium oxide are particularly preferable. The inorganic fine particles are mainly composed of oxides or sulfides of these metals, and can further contain other elements. The main component means a component having the largest content (% by weight) among the components constituting the particles. Examples of other elements include Ti, Zr, Sn, Sb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Hg, Zn, Al, Mg, Si, P, and S. An inorganic material that is film-forming and can be dispersed in a solvent, or is itself a liquid, such as alkoxides of various elements, salts of organic acids, coordination compounds bonded to coordination compounds (eg chelate compounds), active inorganics A medium / high refractive index layer can also be formed using a polymer.

  An antiglare function (function of preventing incident scenery from being transferred to the film surface by scattering incident light on the surface) can be imparted to the surface of the antireflection layer. For example, it has an anti-glare function by forming fine irregularities on the surface of the transparent film and forming an antireflection layer on the surface, or by forming irregularities on the surface with an embossing roll after forming the antireflection layer. An antireflection layer can be obtained. An antireflection layer having an antiglare function generally has a haze of 3 to 30%.

  The hard coat layer has a hardness higher than that of the transparent support. The hard coat layer preferably contains a crosslinked polymer. The hard coat layer can be formed using an acrylic, urethane, or epoxy polymer, oligomer, or monomer (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin). A hard coat layer can also be formed from a silica-based material.

  A lubricating layer may be formed on the surface of the antireflection layer (low refractive index layer). The lubricating layer has a function of imparting slipperiness to the surface of the low refractive index layer and improving scratch resistance. The lubricating layer can be formed using polyorganosiloxane (for example, silicon oil), natural wax, petroleum wax, higher fatty acid metal salt, fluorine-based lubricant or derivative thereof. The thickness of the lubricating layer is preferably 2 to 20 nm.

  In the case of adopting the above-mentioned “(3) Method of incorporating in an adhesive layer between two adjacent members selected from a transparent support and any layer” as a method of incorporating the merocyanine compound of the present invention into an optical filter. For example, after the merocyanine compound of the present invention is contained in the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the adjacent two of the above-mentioned transparent support and arbitrary layers may be bonded using the pressure-sensitive adhesive. As the pressure-sensitive adhesive, known transparent pressure-sensitive adhesives for laminated glass such as silicon-based, urethane-based, acrylic-based, polyvinyl butyral-based, and ethylene-vinyl acetate-based can be used. Moreover, when using this adhesive, as needed, crosslinking agents, such as a metal chelate type, an isocyanate type, and an epoxy type, can be used as a hardening | curing agent. Moreover, it is preferable that the thickness of an adhesive layer shall be 2-400 micrometers.

  In the case of employing the above-mentioned “(4) Method of providing a light absorbing layer containing a light absorber such as the merocyanine compound of the present invention separately from the arbitrary layers” as a method of incorporating the merocyanine compound of the present invention into an optical filter. The merocyanine compound of the present invention can be used as it is to form a light absorption layer, or can be dispersed in a binder to form a light absorption layer. Examples of the binder include natural polymer materials such as gelatin, casein, starch, cellulose derivatives, and alginic acid, or polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polystyrene, Synthetic polymer materials such as polycarbonate and polyamide are used.

  When the binder is used, an organic solvent can be used at the same time. The organic solvent is not particularly limited, and various known solvents can be used as appropriate. For example, alcohols such as isopropanol Ether ethers such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, butyl diglycol; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, diacetone alcohol, esters such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methoxyethyl acetate; Acrylic esters such as ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate; fluorinated alcohols such as 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol; hydrocarbons such as hexane, benzene, toluene and xylene; methylene dichloride, dichloroe Emissions, chlorinated hydrocarbons such as chloroform and the like. These organic solvents can be used alone or in combination.

  The undercoat layer, antireflection layer, hard coat layer, lubricating layer, light absorption layer and the like can be formed by a general coating method. Examples of the coating method include a dip coating method, an air knife coating method, a curtain coating method, a roller coating method, a wire bar coating method, a gravure coating method, and an extrusion coating method using a hopper (described in US Pat. No. 2,681,294). ) And the like. Two or more layers may be formed by simultaneous application. Regarding the simultaneous application method, US Pat. No. 2,761,789, US Pat. No. 2,941,898, US Pat. No. 3,508,947, US Pat. No. 3,526,528 and Yuji Harasaki “Coating Engineering”, page 253 (published by Asakura Shoten in 1973) There is a description.

Since the merocyanine compound of the present invention has a small half width of absorption, the optical filter of the present invention containing the merocyanine compound of the present invention has low light absorption necessary for image display, and is used for improving the quality of a display image. Suitable for optical filters for image display devices, for example, liquid crystal display devices (LCD), plasma display panels (PDP), electroluminescence displays (ELD), cathode ray tube display devices (CRT), fluorescent display tubes, field emission displays, etc. It is.
The optical filter of the present invention can also be used as an optical filter for analysis equipment, semiconductor device manufacturing, astronomical observation, optical communication, and the like.

Next, the optical recording material of the present invention containing the compound of the present invention used for the optical recording layer of the optical recording medium having the optical recording layer formed on the substrate will be described below.
The optical recording material of the present invention is a material used for forming an optical recording layer, and is a mixture of the compound of the present invention represented by the above general formula (I) and organic solvents and various compounds described later. is there.

  The method for forming the optical recording layer of the optical recording medium using the optical recording material of the present invention containing the merocyanine compound represented by the general formula (I) is not particularly limited. Generally, lower alcohols such as methanol and ethanol; ether alcohols such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, and butyl diglycol; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, diacetone alcohol, ethyl acetate, Esters such as butyl acetate and methoxyethyl acetate; acrylic acid esters such as ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate; fluorinated alcohols such as 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol; benzene, toluene, xylene and the like Hydrocarbons: Solvent optical recording materials prepared by dissolving the merocyanine compound of the present invention and, if necessary, various compounds described below in an organic solvent such as chlorinated hydrocarbons such as methylene dichloride, dichloroethane, and chloroform. To prepare a spin coating the optical recording material on a substrate, spraying, wet coating be applied by dipping or the like is used. When the organic solvent is used, the amount used is such that the content of the merocyanine compound represented by the general formula (I) in the optical recording material of the present invention is 0.1 to 10% by mass. Is preferred.

  Further, when the optical recording medium of the present invention is produced by using the merocyanine compound of the present invention or a mixture of the compound and the above-mentioned various compounds as a simple substance as the optical recording material of the present invention, a vapor deposition method or a sputtering method is used. Etc. are used.

  The optical recording layer is formed as a thin film, and the thickness is usually 0.001 to 10 μm, preferably 0.01 to 5 μm.

  In the optical recording material of the present invention, the content of the merocyanine compound represented by the general formula (I) is preferably 10 to 100% by mass in the solid content contained in the optical recording material of the present invention. The optical recording layer is preferably formed so as to contain 50 to 100% by mass of the merocyanine compound in the optical recording layer, and in order to form an optical recording layer having such a compound content, The optical recording material further preferably contains 50 to 100% by mass of the merocyanine compound represented by the general formula (I) in the solid content contained in the optical recording material of the present invention.

  The solid content contained in the optical recording material of the present invention is a component obtained by removing components other than the solid content such as an organic solvent from the optical recording material, and the content of the solid content is in the optical recording material. 0.01-100 mass% is preferable, and 0.1-10 mass% is more preferable.

  In addition to the merocyanine compound of the present invention, the optical recording material of the present invention includes, as necessary, an azo compound, a phthalocyanine compound, an oxonol compound, a squarylium compound, an indole compound, a styryl compound, a porphine compound, and azulium. Compounds, croconic methine compounds, pyrylium compounds, thiopyrylium compounds, triarylmethane compounds, diphenylmethane compounds, tetrahydrocholine compounds, indophenol compounds, anthraquinone compounds, naphthoquinone compounds, xanthene compounds, thiazines Compounds commonly used in optical recording layers, such as polyethylene compounds, acridine compounds, oxazine compounds, spiropyran compounds, fluorene compounds, rhodamine compounds; polyethylene, polyesters, Resins such as styrene and polycarbonate; surfactants; antistatic agents; lubricants; flame retardants; radical scavengers such as hindered amines; pit formation accelerators such as ferrocene derivatives; dispersants; antioxidants; cross-linking agents; An agent or the like may be contained. Furthermore, the optical recording material of the present invention may contain an aromatic nitroso compound, an aminium compound, an iminium compound, a bisiminium compound, a transition metal chelate compound, or the like as a quencher such as singlet oxygen. In the optical recording material of the present invention, these various compounds are used in an amount of preferably 0 to 50% by mass in the solid content contained in the optical recording material of the present invention.

  The material of the substrate on which such an optical recording layer is provided is not particularly limited as long as it is substantially transparent to writing (recording) light and reading (reproducing) light. For example, polymethyl methacrylate, A resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate, glass, or the like is used. Moreover, the shape can use arbitrary shapes, such as a tape, a drum, a belt, a disk, according to a use.

  On the optical recording layer, a reflective film can be formed by vapor deposition or sputtering using gold, silver, aluminum, copper or the like, and a protective layer is formed by acrylic resin, ultraviolet curable resin, or the like. You can also

  The optical recording material of the present invention is suitable for an optical recording material used for an optical recording layer in an optical recording medium on which recording is performed by providing a thermal information pattern using a semiconductor laser for recording and reproducing information. It is particularly suitable for high-speed recording type CD-R, DVD ± R, HD-DVD-R, BD-R and other known single-layer, double-layer, and multilayer-type optical discs.

  As described above, the merocyanine compound of the present invention is suitably used as an optical element such as an optical filter or an optical recording material, as well as a dye-sensitized solar cell, a photoelectrochemical cell, a nonlinear optical device, an electrochromic display, a hologram, As organic semiconductors, organic EL, silver halide photographic materials, sensitizers, printing inks, ink jets, electrophotographic color toners, cosmetics, colorants such as plastics, protein dyes, luminescent dyes for substance detection, etc. Is also used.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with examples, comparative examples, and evaluation examples. However, the present invention is not limited by the following examples.
Examples 1-4 below show compound No. 1 which is a merocyanine compound of the present invention. 1-No. No. 4 production examples are shown. Examples 5 to 12 show production examples of the optical filter of the present invention using the merocyanine compound of the present invention manufactured in Examples 1 to 4. The following Examples 13 to 16 are compound Nos. Of the present invention prepared in Examples 1 to 4. 1-No. 4 of the present invention each containing No. 4; 1-No. 4 and optical recording medium No. 4 using the optical recording material. 1-No. The following Comparative Examples 1 to 4 are Comparative Compound Nos. 1-No. Comparative optical recording material no. 1-No. 4 and comparative optical recording medium No. 1 using the optical recording material. 1-No. 4 shows an example of production.

  In the following Evaluation Examples 1-1 to 1-4 and Comparative Evaluation Examples 1-1 to 1-4, the optical recording media Nos. 1 to 4 obtained in Examples 1 to 4 were used. 1-No. 4 and Comparative Compound Nos. 1 to 4 in Comparative Examples 1 to 4. 1-No. The thermal decomposition behavior of No. 4 was evaluated by differential thermal analysis measurement at a heating rate of 10 ° C./min in a nitrogen stream. The results are shown in [Table 4].

  In the following Evaluation Examples 2-1 to 2-4 and Comparative Evaluation Examples 2-1 to 2-4, the compound Nos. Obtained in Examples 1 to 4 were used. 1-No. 4 and Comparative Compound Nos. 1 to 4 in Comparative Examples 1 to 4. 1-No. 4 was evaluated for solubility. The results are shown in [Table 5].

  In the following Evaluation Examples 3-1 to 3-4, the optical recording media Nos. Obtained in Examples 13 to 16 were used. 1-No. 4 was evaluated for the suitability of recording and reproduction with a short wavelength laser. The results are shown in [Table 6].

[Examples 1-4] Compound No. 1 1-No. <Step 1> Compound No. 1-No. Preparation of Intermediate 4 A nitrogen-substituted reaction flask was charged with 0.1 mol of indolenine quaternary salt, 0.12 mol of diphenylformamidine hydrochloride, 0.1 mol of pyridine and 115 g of dimethylacetamide, and the mixture was heated at 60 ° C. for 11 hours. Stir. After cooling to room temperature, 120 g of chloroform and 0.15 mol of potassium hexafluorophosphate dissolved in 350 g of water were added for salt exchange. After washing the oil layer, the oil layer was separated and the solvent was distilled off. The obtained residue was recrystallized from 150 g of methanol. After filtration, washing and drying, the target compound No. 1-No. 4 intermediates were obtained.

<Step 2> Compound No. 1-No. Preparation of No. 4 A reaction flask purged with nitrogen was charged with 0.02 mol of the intermediate obtained in Step 1, 0.6 mol of pyridine and 0.02 mol of active methylene compound, and 0.03 mol of acetic anhydride while stirring at room temperature. Was dripped. The mixture was stirred at 50 ° C. for 1 to 4 hours, and the precipitate was filtered off and recrystallized from dimethylformamide. 1-No. 4 were obtained respectively. The obtained compound was identified by λmax, ε, decomposition point, IR absorption spectrum, and ¹ H-NMR analysis. The results are shown in [Table 1] to [Table 3] below.
For the decomposition point of the compound, the following results of [Evaluation Examples 1-1 to 1-6] were used.

[Example 5] Preparation of optical filter 1
A coating liquid was prepared with the following composition, and the coating liquid was applied to a 188 μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate film subjected to easy adhesion treatment by a bar coater # 9, and then dried at 100 ° C. for 3 minutes, on the polyethylene terephthalate film. An optical filter having a film layer with a thickness of 10 μm (compound No. 1 content of 2.0 mg / m ² ) was obtained. With respect to this optical filter, when the absorption spectrum was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation, λmax was 520 nm and the half-value width was 61 nm.

(Combination)
Sumipex LG 2.5g
(Acrylic resin binder manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., resin content 40% by mass)
Compound No. 1 PF ₆ salt 2mg
Methyl ethyl ketone 2.5g

[Example 6] Preparation of optical filter 2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was prepared by the following composition, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was applied to a 188 μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate film subjected to easy adhesion treatment with a bar coater # 30 and then dried at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes. An optical filter (compound No. 1 content 2.0 mg / m ² ) having an adhesive layer having a thickness of about 10 μm on the film was obtained. When this optical filter was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation, λmax was 520.5 nm and the half-value width was 61.5 nm.

(Combination)
Compound No. 1 PF ₆ salt 2.0mg
Acrylic adhesive (DB Bond 5541: Diabond) 20g
80g of methyl ethyl ketone

[Example 7] Preparation of optical filter 3
A UV varnish was prepared by the following composition, and the UV varnish was applied to a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 188 μm subjected to easy adhesion treatment by a bar coater # 9, followed by drying at 80 ° C. for 30 seconds. Thereafter, an optical filter (compound No. 1 content of 2.0 mg / m ² ) having a filter layer with a cured film thickness of about 5 μm was obtained by irradiating 100 mJ of ultraviolet rays with a high-pressure mercury lamp with an infrared cut film filter. With respect to this optical filter, an absorption spectrum was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation. As a result, λmax was 519.5 nm and the half-value width was 61.6 nm.

(Combination)
Adekaoptomer KRX-571-65 100g
(Asahi Denka Kogyo's UV curable resin, resin content 80% by mass)
Compound No. 1 PF ₆ salt 0.5g
Methyl ethyl ketone 60g

[Example 8] Preparation of optical filter 4
A coating solution was prepared with the following composition, and the coating solution was applied to a 188-micron thick polyethylene terephthalate film subjected to easy adhesion treatment with a bar coater # 9, and then dried at 100 ° C. for 3 minutes to obtain a polyethylene terephthalate film. An optical filter (compound No. 1 content of 2.0 mg / m ² ) having a film layer with a thickness of about 10 μm was obtained. The optical filter was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation. As a result, λmax was 520 nm and the half width was 61.3 nm.

(Combination)
Polyester TP-220 100g
(Nippon Synthetic Chemical Polyester)
Compound No. 1 PF ₆ salt 1.0g
Methyl ethyl ketone 60g

[Example 9] Preparation of optical filter 5
Compound No. Compound No. 1 was replaced with 2 mg. An optical filter was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5 except that 2 mg of PF ₆ salt 2 was used, and the obtained optical filter was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation. As a result, λmax was 487 nm and the half width was 53 nm.

[Example 10] Preparation of optical filter 6
Compound No. Compound No. 1 was replaced with 2 mg. An optical filter was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5 except that 2 mg of PF ₆ salt of No. 3 was used, and the obtained optical filter was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation. As a result, λmax was 488 nm and the half width was 51 nm.

[Example 11] Preparation of optical filter 7
Compound No. Compound No. 1 was replaced with 2 mg. An optical filter was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5 except that 2 mg of PF ₆ salt of No. 4 was used, and the obtained optical filter was measured with an ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer V-570 manufactured by JASCO Corporation. As a result, λmax was 470.5 nm and the half width was 49 nm.

  The optical filters of Examples 5 to 11 using the compound represented by the above general formula (I) of the present invention have sharp absorption at a specific wavelength (380 to 550 nm), and are particularly suitable for image display devices. It was confirmed that it was excellent in performance as an optical filter for plasma display.

[Examples 12 to 15] Production of optical recording material and optical recording medium The merocyanine compound No. 1 of the present invention obtained in Examples 1 to 4 above. 1-No. 4 was dissolved in a 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol solution so that the concentration of the compound was 1.0% by mass, respectively, to give a 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol solution as Example 12. To 16 optical recording materials No. 1-No. 4 were obtained respectively. A titanium chelate compound (T-50: manufactured by Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.) was applied and hydrolyzed, and the above optical recording material No. 1 was placed on a polycarbonate disk substrate having a diameter of 12 cm provided with a base layer (0.01 μm). 1-No. 4 was applied by a spin coating method to form an optical recording layer having a thickness of 100 nm. 1-No. 4 were obtained respectively.

[Comparative Examples 1-4]
In place of the merocyanine compound of the present invention, the following comparative compound No. 1-No. Except that 4 was used, an optical recording material of Comparative Example 1 was produced in the same manner as in Examples 12 to 15 above, and optical recording media of Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were obtained using the optical recording material.

[Evaluation Examples 1-1 to 1-4 and Comparative Evaluation Examples 1-1 to 1-4]
Compound Nos. Obtained in Examples 1 to 4 1-No. 4 and Comparative Compounds Nos. 1 to 4 of Comparative Examples 1 to 4. 1-No. For No. 4, the thermal decomposition behavior was evaluated. Evaluation is performed by differential thermal analysis measurement in a nitrogen stream and in air at a heating rate of 10 ° C./min, and the thermal decomposition temperature is compared and evaluated with the peak top temperature of DTA exotherm. The peak top temperature and the temperature range at the time of 40% mass reduction were evaluated. The evaluation results are shown in [Table 4] below.

  As is clear from Table 4, the merocyanine compound of the present invention is decomposed at low temperature and gradually decomposes, that is, it has low heat storage properties and suppresses thermal interference, so it is confirmed that it is suitable for high-speed recording. did it. On the other hand, the comparative compound had a high decomposition point, high heat storage property, and did not show good thermal decomposition behavior.

[Evaluation Examples 2-1 to 2-4 and Comparative Evaluation Examples 2-1 to 2-4]
Compound No. 1-No. 4 and comparative compound no. 1-No. For No. 4, solubility in ethyl methyl ketone at 20 ° C. was evaluated. The evaluation was performed by adding the merocyanine compound to ethyl methyl ketone in 0.25 mass% increments in the range of 0.25 mass% to 2.0 mass%, and observing dissolution and insolubility. The results are shown in [Table 5].

As is apparent from [Table 5], the merocyanine compound of the present invention showed superior solubility as compared with the comparative compound.
In general, when a compound is used in an optical recording medium, a method of applying a solution obtained by dissolving an optical recording agent in an organic solvent by spin coating or spraying is generally used to form an optical recording layer such as an optical disk. Therefore, it is preferable that the compound used as the optical recording agent for the optical recording medium has a higher solubility in an organic solvent because the process margin for forming an optical recording layer is larger.
In general, since a compound having high solubility in an organic solvent has good compatibility with a synthetic resin, it is necessary to uniformly disperse or dissolve the optical element in the synthetic resin. Also preferred in production.
Therefore, the merocyanine compound of the present invention is suitable as a compound for use in optical recording media and optical filters.

[Evaluation Examples 3-1 to 3-4]
The optical recording media No. 1 obtained in Examples 12 to 15 were used. 1-No. For 4, the UV spectral absorption was measured. The results are shown in [Table 6].

  As apparent from [Table 6], the optical recording material medium having the optical recording layer formed of the optical recording material of the present invention exhibited λmax in the vicinity of 380 to 550 nm in the UV spectrum absorption. In the reproduction mode of an optical recording medium represented by an optical disc, the presence or absence of recording is detected by the difference in the amount of laser wavelength with respect to the reflected light reflected from the optical recording medium. In the absorption spectrum, it is preferable to have a higher absorption intensity near the wavelength of the laser beam. Therefore, the optical recording material of the present invention containing the merocyanine compound of the present invention is suitable as an optical recording material used for forming an optical recording layer of an optical recording medium using a laser beam of 380 to 420 nm such as an optical disk for a short wavelength laser. is there.

Claims (8)

The merocyanine compound represented by the following general formula ( V ).

( Wherein R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms. An arylalkyl group, a heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, a metallocenyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a cyano group, R ³ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or 6 carbon atoms. Represents an aryl group having ˜30, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, a heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, or a substituent represented by the following general formula (II), and n is 0 to 3 is a number, R ³ and R ⁶ may form a ring structure linked ^{.R 3, R 5, R 6} , and methylene in the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ⁷ groups, -O -, - S -, - CO -, - COO -, - OCO -, - SO 2 -, - NH-, CONH -, - NHCO -, - N = CH- or -CH = CH- may be substituted with.
Ring A represents a 5-membered ring or a 6-membered ring. The 5-membered ring or 6-membered ring may be condensed or substituted with another ring. R ¹⁴ is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a heterocyclic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms. Represents a metallocenyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a cyano group, and the methylene group in the alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by R ¹⁴ is -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO. -, - OCO -, - SO 2 -, - NH -, - CONH -, - NHCO -, - N = CH- or -CH = CH- may be substituted with. Ring B represents a benzene ring or naphthalene, and s is a number from 1 to 5. )

(Wherein, R ^{a to} R ⁱ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the methylene group in the alkyl group is substituted with —O— or —CO—). Z represents a direct bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and the methylene group in the alkylene group is -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -OCO-. , —SO ₂ —, —NH—, —CONH—, —NHCO—, —N═CH— or —CH═CH—, where M is Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, Cu, Zn, Zr, Cr, Mo, Os, Mn, Ru, Sn, Pd, Rh, Pt or Ir are represented.) The merocyanine compound according to claim 1, which is a merocyanine compound represented by the following general formula (VII).

Wherein X ¹ , X ² and X ³ are each independently —O—, —S—, —C (═O) —, —C (═S) —, —N (R ³¹ ) —, —C (R ³² ) (R ³³ ) —, —N═, —C (R ³³ ) ═ or a group represented by the following [Chemical Formula 4 ] or [Chemical Formula 5 ]: X ¹ , X ² and X ² The bond between X ³ is a single bond, a double bond or a conjugated double bond, and R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, carbon Represents an aryl group having 6 to 30 atoms or an arylalkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, and R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ , n , R ¹⁴ , s and ring B are represented by the above general formula (V Is the same as

(In the formula, R ³⁴ and R ³⁵ each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.) The merocyanine compound according to claim 1 or 2 , which is a merocyanine compound represented by the following general formula (VIII).

(Wherein X ⁴ , X ⁵ , X ⁶ and X ⁷ are each independently —O—, —S—, —C (═O) —, —C (═S) —, —N (R ³¹ )-, -C (R ³² ) (R ³³ )-, -N =, -C (R ³³ ) = or a group represented by the above [Chemical Formula 4 ] or [Chemical Formula 5 ], X ⁴ and X ⁵ , X ⁵ and X ⁶ and X ⁶ and X ⁷ are single bonds, double bonds or conjugated double bonds, and R ³ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ⁷ , n , R ¹⁴ , s And ring B is the same as in the general formula (V), and R ³¹ , R ³² and R ³³ are the same as in the general formula (VII).) Optical filter, characterized in that contains at least one merocyanine compound according to any one of claims 1-3. The optical filter according to claim 4 , which is used for an image display device. The optical filter according to claim 5 , wherein the image display device is a plasma display. Optical recording material, characterized in that contains at least one merocyanine compound according to any one of claims 1-3. An optical recording medium comprising an optical recording layer formed from the optical recording material according to claim 7 on a substrate.