Chromogenic propenylenesulfone compounds

Abstract

Chromogenic compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein each of Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 independently represents an aminosubstituted phenyl radical of the formula ##STR2## a 3-indolyl radical of the formula ##STR3## a 3-carbazolyl radical of the formula ##STR4## and Q represents alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms or unsubstituted or substituted aryl or aralkyl, 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 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, and the rings A, B and D, each independently of the other, can be unsubstituted or substituted by cyano, nitro, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or lower alkoxycarbonyl, and the ring D can also contain an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl radical or a fused benzene ring. These compounds are particularly suitable for use as color formers in pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive recording materials.