Thermal print element comprising a yellow merocyanine dye stabilized with a cyan indoaniline dye

摘要

A thermal print element comprising a support having thereon a layer containing a thermally-transferred dye image, the dye image comprising a yellow merocyanine dye having the formula: wherein:    A represents -COR, -COOR, -CONHR, -CN, -SO₂R or -SO₂NR₂; or A may be combined together with R⁴ to form a heterocyclic ar carbocyclic ring system;    R⁴ represents -NHR, -NR₂, -OR, -SR, or -R;    n represents 0 or 1;    Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a 5- or 6-membered substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring; and    each R independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl group;the dye image also comprising a cyan indoaniline dye in the same areas as the yellow merocyanine dye to provide improved stability to light for the yellow merocyanine dye, the cyan indoaniline dye having the formula:      wherein R¹ and R² are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl group;    R³ is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, halogen, -NHCOR¹ or -NHSO₂R¹; and    X represents hydrogen or the atoms necessary to complete a 5- or 6-membered, substituted or unsubstituted, carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system.