Polaroid Corporation

Socorro M Ramos

Stephen J Telfer

Stephen G Stroud

John L Marshall

Richard A Minns

Eric S Kolb

Roger A Boggs

Mark R Mischke

Michael J Zuraw

Donald A McGowan

Jurgen M Grasshoff

Peter K Chu

John W Lee

Haixin Yang

Anthony J Puttick

Serajul Haque

Robert P Short

Richard M Allen

Russell A Gaudiana

Michael A Young

Larry C Takiff

Robert W Haddock

Iris B Kliman Bloom

A process for generation of acid uses a medium comprising a first acid-generating component capable of generating a first acid, and a secondary acid generator, this secondary acid generator being capable of thermal decomposition to form a secondary acid, the thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator being catalyzed by the first acid. At least part of the medium is exposed to so as to cause formation of the first acid from the first acid-generating component; and the medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed part of the medium, acid-catalyzed thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator and formation of the secondary acid. The secondary acid generator has a first site bearing a first leaving group and a second site bearing a second leaving group, the first leaving group being capable of protonation by the first acid, with expulsion of the first leaving group to form a cation which electrophilically adds to an unsaturated reagent bearing a proton at the site of addition and a proton-containing nucleophilic grouping at an adjacent site, following which said proton on the reagent is lost and the second leaving group is displaced by said nucleophilic grouping, the second leaving group, in combination with a proton, forming the secondary acid. Preferred variants of the process are of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,612; 5,334,489; 5,395,736; 5,441,850 and 5,453,345.

Process and composition for generation of acid

A process for generation of acid uses a medium comprising a first acid-generating component capable of generating a first acid, and a secondary acid generator, this secondary acid generator being capable of thermal decomposition to form a secondary acid, the thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator being catalyzed by the first acid. At least part of the medium is exposed to so as to cause formation of the first acid from the first acid-generating component; and the medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed part of the medium, acid-catalyzed thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator and formation of the secondary acid. The secondary acid generator has a first site bearing a first leaving group and a second site bearing a second leaving group, the first leaving group being capable of protonation by the first acid, with expulsion of the first leaving group, followed by loss of a proton from the secondary acid generator to form an unstable intermediate, which then fragments with loss of the second leaving group, accompanied by either (a) loss of a second proton; or (b) addition of a proton-containing nucleophile, followed by loss of a proton, the second leaving group, in combination with a proton, forming the secondary acid. Preferred variants of the process are of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,612; 5,334,489; 5,395,736; 5,441,850 and 5,453,345.

A process for producing an image uses an imaging medium comprising an acid-generating layer or phase comprising a mixture of a superacid precursor, a sensitizing dye and a secondary acid generator, and a color-change layer comprising an image dye. The sensitizing dye has first and second forms, the first form having substantially greater substantial absorption in a first wavelength range than the second form. The superacid precursor is not capable, in the absence of the first form of the sensitizing dye, of being decomposed by radiation in the first wavelength range. The secondary acid generator is capable of thermal decomposition, catalyzed by superacid, to form a secondary acid. While at least part of the sensitizing dye is in its first form, the medium is imagewise exposed to radiation in the first wavelength range, thereby causing, in the exposed areas of the acid-generating layer, the formation of superacid. The medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed areas, thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator, catalyzed by the superacid, and formation of the secondary acid. The components of the acid-generating and color-change layers or phases are then mixed so that the secondary acid causes a change in color of the image dye, and the sensitizing dye is converted to its second form. The acid-generating layer or phase desirably includes a cosensitizer which is a reducing agent less basic than the secondary acid generator.

Imaging medium and process for producing an image

Dyes comprising an inner salt of a compound of the formula:

Benzpyrylium squarylium and croconylium dyes, and processes for their

Squarylium compounds of the formula: ##STR1## (in which Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 are each a chromophoric group having an aromatic unsaturated system conjugated with the squarylium ring and such that in the compounds of formulae Q.sup.1 CH.sub.2 R.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 CH.sub.2 R.sup.2 the methylene hydrogens are active hydrogens, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, or an acyl, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic group, subject to the proviso that one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be an amino or substituted amino group, or one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is an organosulfonyl group, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the intervening nitrogen atom form a nitrogenous heterocyclic ring) are useful as near infra-red absorbers. The presence of the amino group on the squarylium ring enables minor changes in absorption wavelength to be achieved by modifications of this group, and also allows functional groups to be incorporated into the dye without changing the chromophoric groups.

Processes for the preparation of squarylium dyes

Squarylium dyes, and processes and intermediates for the preparation

4-[3-(benz[b]pyran-4-ylidene)prop-1-enyl]benz[b]pyrylium, 4-[5-(4H-benz[b]pyran-4-ylidene)penta-1,3-dienyl]benz[b]pyrylium and 4-[7-(4H-benz[b]pyran-4-ylidene)hepta-1,3,5-trienyl]benz[b]pyrylium dyes, wherein at least one of the benzpyrylium nuclei carries at its 2-position a substituent in which a non-aromatic carbon atom is bonded directly to the benzpyrylium nucleus, subject to the proviso that if the or each 2-substituent contains an aromatic nucleus, this aromatic nucleus is not conjugated with the benzpyrylium nucleus, are useful as visible and near infra-red absorbers, having high extinction coefficients and a reduced tendency to develop absorptions at shorter wavelengths when dispersed in polymeric media.

Benzpyrylium dyes, and processes for their preparation and use

Squarylium compounds of the formula: ##STR1## (in which Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 are each a chromophoric group having an unsaturated system conjugated with the squarylium ring and such that in the compounds of formulae Q.sup.1 CH.sub.2 R.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 CH.sub.2 R.sup.2 the methylene hydrogens are active hydrogens, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic group, or one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is an organosulfonyl group, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the intervening nitrogen atom form a cycloaliphatic or aromatic ring) are useful as near infra-red absorbers. The presence of the amino group on the squarylium ring enables minor changes in absorption wavelength to be achieved by modifications of this group, and also allows functional groups to be incorporated into the dye without changing the chromophoric groups.

Growing community of inventors

Belmont, MA, United States of America

Socorro M Ramos