Spirodibenzopyrans

Abstract

Dye-forming components of the general formula ##STR1## where A is the radical of a fused benzo ring or 2,1-naphthalene ring, and either radical may be substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, nitro, chlorine, bromine or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxycarbonyl, R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 -alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 -phenylalkyl or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, chlorine or bromine, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another are hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, which is substituted by cyano, chlorine, methoxy or ethoxy, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 -phenylalkyl or trimethylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2 or 3 methyl groups and is bonded to the carbon in the 6- and/or 8-position of the benzo ring, or R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and R.sup.3 is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by chlorine, bromine, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl, methoxy or ethoxy, or R.sup.2 is benzyl and R.sup.3 is .beta.-cyanoethyl, or ##STR2## is morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, N'--C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylpiperazinyl or isoindolinyl. In contact with paper coated with electron acceptors the compounds (I) give violet or blue to green colorations, while on uncoated paper virtually no color is developed. The compounds (I) may be used as dye-forming components for pressure-sensitive recording or copying materials.