Carbazolylmethane compounds

Abstract

Carbazolylmethane compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein one of Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2 and Q represents a 3-carbazolyl radical of the formula ##STR2## and each of the other two independently represents an amino-substituted phenyl radical of the formula ##STR3## a 3-indolyl radical of the formula ##STR4## a 3-carbazolyl radical of the formula ##STR5## or a 3-carbazolyl radical of the formula (1a), and Q also represents hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, alkenyl containing not more than 12 carbon atoms, aryl, aralkyl or a further heterocyclic radical, while each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 independently represents hydrogen, alkyl containing not more than 12 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano or lower alkoxy, or represents cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, or phenyl or benzyl which is substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, or X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached represent a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic radical, X.sub.3 represents hydrogen, halogen, nitro, lower alkyl, or lower alkoxy, each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and Z.sub.1 independently represents hydrogen, alkyl containing not more than 12 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano or lower alkoxy, or represents alkenyl containing not more than 12 carbon atoms, acyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, phenyl, benzyl, or phenyl or benzyl which is substituted by halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, and Z.sub.2 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl or phenyl, the ring A is substituted by phenyl or at least one fused benzene nucleus, and the phenyl radical, the fused benzene nucleus and the rings B, D, E and G, each independently of the other, are unsubstituted or substituted by cyano, nitro, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or lower alkoxycarbonyl; these compounds are particularly suitable for use as color formers in pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive recording material.