Metal complexes as light-absorbing compounds in the information layer of optical data carriers

Azo compounds of the formula (Ib)

• where
• D is a five-membered pseudoaromatic heterocyclic radical,
• x is 0 or 1,
• R2 is substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-vinyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-ethynyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-butadienyl or a substituted or unsubstituted five- or six-membered aromatic or pseudoaromatic heterocyclic radical,
• R3 and R4 are each, independently of one another, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6-alkyl, C7-C10-aralkyl or substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl or
• NR3R4 is pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, piperazino or N-C1- to C6-alkyl-piperidino,
• R5 is hydrogen, chlorine, methyl or methoxy or
• R3;R5 together form a —(CH2)2—, —(CH2)3— or —CH2)2—O— bridge
• where D must not be unsubstituted or substituted thiazol-2-yl, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl, benzothiazol-2-yl, benzoxazol-2-yl, benzimidazol-2-yl or 1,3,4-triazol-2-yl when x is 1 and R2 is substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl.

Coupling component of the formula (VII)

• where
• x is 0 or 1,
• R2 is substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-vinyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-ethynyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-butadienyl or a substituted or unsubstituted five- or six-membered aromatic or pseudoaromatic heterocyclic radical,
• R3 and R4 are each, independently of one another, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6-alkyl, C7-C10-aralkyl or substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl or
• NR3R4 is pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, piperazino or N—C1-C6-alkyl-piperidino,
• R5 is hydrogen, chlorine, methyl or methoxy or
• R3;
• R5 together form a —CH2)2—, —(CH2)3— or —(CH2)2—O— bridge.

Process for preparing coupling components of the formula (VI), characterized in that

• an m-phenylenediamine of the formula (VIII)
• where
• R3 and R4 are each, independently of one another, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6-alkyl, C7-C10-aralkyl or substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl or
• NR3R4 is pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, piperazino or N—C1-C6-alkyl-piperidino,
• R5 is hydrogen, chlorine, methyl or methoxy or
• R3;R5 together form a —CH2)2—, —(CH2)3— or —(CH2)2—O— bridge,
• is reacted with a sulphonic acid halide or sulphinic acid halide of the formula (ID)
• where
• x is 0 or 1,
• R2 is substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-vinyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-ethynyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10-aryl-butadienyl or a substituted or unsubstituted five- or six-membered aromatic or pseudoaromatic heterocyclic radical and
• Z is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.