Multi-chromophoric azo pyridone colorants

A phase change ink composition comprising a phase change ink carrier and a colorant compound comprising three or more moieties of the formula

• wherein (A) each R1, independently of the others, is (i) an alkyl or alkylene group, (ii) an aryl or arylene group, (iii) an arylalkyl or arylalkylene group, (iv) an alkylaryl or alkylarylene group, (v) a silyl or silylene group, or (vi) a siloxy group, (B) each R2, independently of the others, is (i) an alkyl or alkylene group, (ii) an aryl or arylene group, (iii) an arylalkyl or arylalkylene group, (iv) an alkylaryl or alkylarylene group, (v) a silyl or silylene group, (vi) a siloxy group, or (vii) a group of the formula
• wherein r and s are each, independently of the other, integers representing a number of repeat —CH2— groups, (C) each R3, independently of the others, is (i) an alkyl group, (ii) an aryl group, (iii) an arylalkyl group, or (iv) an alkylaryl group, (D) each X, independently of the others, is (i) a direct bond, (ii) an oxygen atom, (iii) a sulfur atom, (iv) a group of the formula —NR40— wherein R40 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, or (v) a group of the formula —CR50R60— wherein R50 and R60 each, independently of the other, is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and (E) each Z, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) a halogen atom, (iii) a nitro group, (iv) an alkyl group, (v) an aryl group, (vi) an arylalkyl group, (vii) an alkylaryl group, (viii) a group of the formula—
• wherein R70 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, a silyl group, or a siloxy group, (ix) a sulfonyl group of the formula —SO2R80 wherein R80 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, a silyl group, or a siloxy group, or (x) a phosphoryl group of the formula —PO3R90 wherein R90 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, a silyl group, or a siloxy group;
• said moieties being bonded to a central atom, monomeric group of atoms, oligomer, or polymer.

A process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink composition comprising a phase change ink carrier and a colorant compound comprising three or more moieties of the formula

• wherein (A) each R1, independently of the others, is (i) an alkyl or alkylene group, (ii) an aryl or arylene group, (iii) an arylalkyl or arylalkylene group, (iv) an alkylaryl or alkylarylene group, (v) a silyl or silylene group, or (vi) a siloxy group, (B) each R2, independently of the others, is (i) an alkyl or alkylene group, (ii) an aryl or arylene group, (iii) an arylalkyl or arylalkylene group, (iv) an alkylaryl or alkylarylene group, (v) a silyl or silylene group, (vi) a siloxy group, or (vii) a group of the formula
• wherein r and s are each, independently of the other, integers representing a number of repeat —CH2— groups, (C) each R3, independently of the others, is (i) an alkyl group, (ii) an aryl group, (iii) an arylalkyl group, or (iv) an alkylaryl group, (D) each X, independently of the others, is (i) a direct bond, (ii) an oxygen atom, (iii) a sulfur atom, (iv) a group of the formula —NR40— wherein R40 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, or (v) a group of the formula —CR50R60— wherein R50 and R60 each, independently of the other, is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and (E) each Z, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) a halogen atom, (iii) a nitro group, (iv) an alkyl group, (v) an aryl group, (vi) an arylalkyl group, (vii) an alkylaryl group, (viii) a group of the formula
• wherein R70 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, a silyl group, or a siloxy group, (ix) a sulfonyl group of the formula —SO2R80 wherein R80 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, a silyl group, or a siloxy group, or (x) a phosphoryl group of the formula —PO3R90 wherein R90 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, a silyl group, or a siloxy group;
• said moieties being bonded to a central atom, monomeric group of atoms, oligomer, or polymer;
• (2) melting the ink;
• and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.