Patent ID: 7749669

Claim:
An electrophotographic toner comprising a thermoplastic resin and at least one metal chelate dye represented by the following formula (1): M(L 1 )(L 2 ) n (X 1 ) m (X 2 ) 1 .W 1 , formula (1) wherein M is a divalent metal ion selected from the group of Cu and Zn; X 1 and X 2 are each a monodentate or didentate ligand, provided that X 1 and X 2 may combine with each other; L 1 and L 2 ; n, m and 1 are each 0 or 1; W 1 is a counter ion when a counter ion is required for neutralization of charge, and wherein in formula (1), at least one of L 1 and L 2 is represented by the following formula (2): wherein R 11 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R 13 is a substituent; R 12 is —NR 14 R 15 or —OR 16 ; A 11 , A 12 and A 13 are each independently —CR 17 ═ or —N═; X 11 is an atomic group necessary to form a 5- or 6-membered aromatic or heterocyclic ring; Z1 is an atomic group necessary to form a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, which may be substituted by one or more substituents and the substituents may combine with each other to form a condensed ring; R 14 to R 17 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent; L 11 is a linkage group having one or two carbon atoms or a part of a ring structure, provided that L 11 may combine with R 13 to form a 5- or 6-membered ring; p is an integer of 0 to 3; and wherein in formula (2), the heterocyclic ring formed of Z1 is represented by the following formula (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8): wherein R 31 and R 41 are each a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R 32 is a substituent selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, a cycloalkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, a cycloakylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a sulfamoyl group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, an amido group, a carbamoyl group, a ureido group, a sulfinyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, and arylsulfonyl group, a amino group, a cyano group, a nitro group and a halogen group, and R 42 is a substituent; L 31 and L 41 are each a linkage group having one or two carbon atoms or a part of a ring structure and binds to A 11 of formula (2) at the position designated “*”; wherein R 51 , R 52 and R 61 are each a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R 53 and R 62 are each a substituent: L 51 and L 61 are each a linkage group having one or two carbon atoms or a part of a ring structure and binds to A 11 of formula (2) at the position designated “*”; and wherein R 71 , R 72 , R 81 and R 82 are each a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R 73 and R 83 are each a substituent: L 71 and L 81 are each a linkage group having one or two carbon atoms or a part of a ring structure and binds to A 11 of formula (2) at the position designated “*”.