Patent ID: 8178282

Claim:
A heat-sensitive imaging element comprising an IR dye wherein the IR dye has a structure according to Formula I: wherein + Y 1 =is represented by one of the following structures: Y 2 —is represented by one of the following structures: n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; each of p and q is 0, 1, or 2; R 1 and R 2 are independently an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, or wherein two of the R 1 , R 2 , R d , or R a groups together include the necessary atoms to form a cyclic structure; at least one of the R d groups is selected from the list consisting of: —(N═CR 17 ) a —NR 5 —CO—R 4 , —(N═CR 17 ) b —NR 5 —SO 2 —R 6 , —(N═CR 17 ) c —NR 11 —SO—R 12 , —SO 2 —NR 15 R 16 ; and —S—CH 2 —CR 7 (H) 1-d (R 8 ) d —NR 9 —COOR 18 ; wherein a, b, c, and d independently are 0 or 1; R 17 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group, or wherein R 17 and R 5 , R 17 and R 11 together include the necessary atoms to form a cyclic structure; R 4 is —OR 10 , —NR 13 R 14 , or —CF 3 ; R 10 is an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group or an optionally branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R 13 and R 14 independently are a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group, or wherein R 13 and R 14 together include the necessary atoms to form a cyclic structure; R 6 is an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group, —OR 10 , —NR 13 R 14 , or —CF 3 ; R 5 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a SO 3 − group, a —COOR 18 group, or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group, or wherein R 5 together with at least one of R 10 , R 13 , and R 14 include the necessary atoms to form a cyclic structure; R 11 , R 15 , and R 16 are independently a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group; or wherein R 15 and R 16 together include the necessary atoms to form a cyclic structure; R 12 is an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group; R 7 and R 9 independently are a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R 8 is —COO − or —COOR 8′ ; wherein R 8′ is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal cation, an ammonium ion, or a mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-alkyl ammonium ion; R 18 is an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group or an alpha-branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R a and other R d groups are independently represented by a group selected from the list consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, —R e , —OR f , —SR g , and —NR u R v ; wherein R e , R f , R g , R u , and R v independently are an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group; and the IR dye further comprises one or more counter ions in order to obtain an electrically neutral molecule.