Thermal transfer image recording method and thermal transfer dye

Abstract

A method for recording a thermal transfer image comprising the step of transferring dyes which comprises a yellow dye represented by the general formula (I), a magenta dye represented by the general formula (II), and at least one of a cyan dye represented by the general formula (III) and a cyan dye represented by the general formula (IV), and a thermal transfer dye donating material which has on a support a color material layer containing at least one dye selected from among a yellow dye represented by the general formula (I), a magenta dye represented by the general formula (II), and a cyan dye represented by the general formula (III) and/or a cyand dye represented by the general formula (IV), together with a fluorine-containing compound: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, or a carbamoyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; R.sup.3 represents an aryl group, or a heterocyclyl group; and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group; ##STR2## wherein R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, a cyano group, an acylamino group, a sulfonylamino group, an ureido group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an acyl group, or an amino group; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; or R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 may combine with each other to form a ring, or R.sup.11 may combine with R.sup.8 to form a ring and/or R.sup.12 may combine with R.sup.9 to form a ring; and X, Y and Z each represents ##STR3## or a nitrogen atom, wherein R.sup.13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, or an amino group; or when both X and Y, or both Y and Z are ##STR4## they may combine with each other to form a saturated or unsaturated carbon ring; ##STR5## wherein Q represents atoms necessary to complete a carbon ring constituted by 5 or more member atoms, or a hetero ring constituted by 5 or more member atoms including at least one nitrogen atom; each substituent from R.sup.14 and R.sup.19 has the same meaning as each from R.sup.6 to R.sup.10 ; R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 each has the same meaning as R.sup.11 or R.sup.12 ; or R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 may combine with each other to form a ring, or R.sup.20 may combine with R.sup.17 to form a ring and/or R.sup.21 may combine with R.sup.18 to form a ring; ##STR6## wherein each substituent from R.sup.22 to R.sup.29 has the same meaning as each from R.sup.6 to R.sup.10 ; and R.sup.30 and R.sup.31 each has the same meaning as R.sup.11 or R.sup.12 ; or R.sup.30 and R.sup.31 may combine with each other to form a ring, or R.sup.30 may combine with R.sup.27 to form a ring and/or R.sup.31 may combine with R.sup.28 to form a ring.