Patent ID: 8647425

Claim:
A process for preparing azaphthalocyanine dyes and salts thereof or metallo-azaphthalocyanine dyes and salts thereof which comprises cyclising a compound of Formula (1) with a compound of Formula (2) and/or Formula (3) and a compound of Formula (4) and/or Formula (5): wherein: R 1 is optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heterocyclyl; R 2 is H, optionally substituted C 1-8 alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more hetero atoms, optionally substituted heteroaryl or optionally substituted phenyl; R 3 is H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heterocyclyl; R 4 and R 5 are cyano, carboxy, carboxamide or together form a group of formula X 1 is Cl or F; X 2 is selected from the group consisting of CN, optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl and C 1-4 alkoxy; n 1 is 4; and n 2 is 0 to 3; wherein the cyclisation process is optionally carried out in the presence of a suitable nitrogen source and a metal salt.