Electrophotographic organophotoreceptors with novel charge transport materials

An electrophotographic imaging apparatus comprising:

• (a) a plurality of support rollers;
• and
• (b) an organophotoreceptor in the form of a flexible belt threaded around said support rollers, said organophotoreceptor comprising:
• (i) a charge transport compound having the formula
• 9
• where n is an integer between 2 and 6, inclusive;
• R1 is an aryl group;
• R2 is a sulfolanyl group a pyrrolyl group;
• a tetrazolyl group;
• a benzotriazolyl group;
• a 4-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)benzyl group;
• a stilbenyl group;
• an alkylsulfonylphenyl group, an arylsulfonylphenyl;
• and a pyrazolyl group, with the provision that when R2 is an alkylsulfonylphenyl group an an arylsulfonylphenyl, R1 may be hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an aryl group;
• X is an alkylene linking group having the formula —(CH2)m—, branched or linear, where m is an integer between 0 and 20, inclusive, and one or more methylene groups in the alkylene group is optionally replaced by an oxygen atom, a carbonyl group, urethane, urea, an ester group, a —NR3 group, a CHR4 group, or a CR5R6 group where R3, R4, R5, and R6 are, independently, H, an alkyl group, or aryl group;
• and
• Y is a bond, carbon atom, nitrogen atom, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, a branched or linear —(CH2)p— group where p is an integer between 0 and 10, an aryl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cyclosiloxyl group, a heterocyclic group, or a CR7 group where R7 is hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or aryl group;
• (ii) a charge generating compound;
• and
• (iii) an electrically conductive substrate.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• (a) applying an electrical charge to a surface of an organophotoreceptor comprising:
• (i) a charge transport compound having the formula
• 10
• where n is an integer between 2 and 6, inclusive;
• R1 is an aryl group;
• R2 is a sulfolanyl group a pyrrolyl group;
• a tetrazolyl group;
• a benzotriazolyl group;
• a 4-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)benzyl group;
• a stilbenyl group;
• an alkylsulfonylphenyl group, an arylsulfonylphenyl;
• and a pyrazolyl group, with the proviso that when R2 is an alkylsulfonylphenyl group or an arylsulfonylphenyl, R1 may be hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an aryl group;
• X is an alkylene linking group having the formula —(CH2)m—, branched or linear, where m is an integer between 0 and 20, inclusive, and one or more methylene groups in the alkylene group is optionally replaced by an oxygen atom, a carbonyl group, urethane, urea, an ester group, a —NR3 group, a CHR4 group, or a CR5R6 group where R3, R4, R5, and R6 are, independently, H, an alkyl group, or aryl group;
• and
• Y is a bond, carbon atom, nitrogen atom, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, a branched or linear —(CH2)p— group where p is an integer between 0 and 10, an aryl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cyclosiloxyl group, a heterocyclic group, or a CR7 group where R7 is hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or aryl group;
• (ii) a charge generating compound;
• and
• (iii) an electrically conductive substrate;
• (b) imagewise exposing said surface of said organophotoreceptor to radiation to dissipate charge in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of charged and uncharged areas on said surface;
• (c) contacting said surface with a liquid toner comprising a dispersion of colorant particles in an organic liquid to create a toned image;
• and
• (d) transferring said toned image to a substrate.

A charge transport compound having the formula

• 11
• where n is an integer between 2 and 6, inclusive;
• R1 is an aryl group;
• R2 is a sulfolanyl group a pyrrolyl group;
• a tetrazolyl group;
• a benzotriazolyl group;
• a 4-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)benzyl group;
• a stilbenyl group;
• an alkylsulfonylphenyl group, an arylsulfonylphenyl;
• and a pyrazolyl group, with the proviso that when R2 is an alkylsulfonylphenyl group or an arylsulfonylphenyl, R1 may be hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an aryl group;
• X is an alkylene linking group having the formula —(CH2)m—, branched or linear, where m is an integer between 0 and 20, inclusive, and one or more methylene groups in the alkyelene group is optionally replaced by an oxygen atom, a carbonyl group, urethane, urea, an ester group, a —NR3 group, a CHR4 group, or a CR5R6 group where R3, R4, R5, and R6 are, independently, H, an alkyl group, or aryl group;
• and
• Y is a bond, carbon atom, nitrogen atom, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, a branched or linear —(CH2)p— group where p is an integer between 0 and 10, an aryl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cyclosiloxyl group, a heterocyclic group, or a CR7 group where R7 is hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or aryl group.