Ink composition and recording method using the same

An ink composition which comprises:

• a compound which is represented by formula (2) and has at least one ionic hydrophilic group;
• and
• a plurality of water-soluble organic solvents,
• wherein the water-soluble organic solvents contains at least a water-soluble organic solvent having a thioether or sulfoxide moiety in an amount of 10 mass % to 80 mass %:
• in formula (2), R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen atom, halogen atom, aliphatic group, aryl group, heterocyclic group, cyano group, carboxyl group, carbamoyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, acyl group, hydroxy group, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, silyloxy group, acyloxy group, carbamoyloxy group, heterocyclic ring oxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, alkylamino group, arylamino group, heterocyclic amino group, acylamino group, ureido group, sulfamoylamino group, alkoxycarbonylamino group, aryloxycarbonylamino group, alkylsulfonylamino group, arylsulfonylamino group, aryloxycarbonylamino group, nitro group, alkylthio group, arylthio group, alkylsulfonyl group, arylsulfonyl group, alkylsulfinyl group, arylsulfinyl group, sulfamoyl group, sulfo group or heterocyclic thio group, wherein R1 and R2 may be bonded together to form a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R3 and R4 each independently represents hydrogen atom, aliphatic group, aryl group, heterocyclic group, acyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, carbamoyl group, alkylsulfonyl group, arylsulfonyl group or sulfamoyl group, wherein R3 and R4 may be bonded together to form a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• a and e each independently represents alkyl group, alkoxy group or halogen atom, wherein when both of a and e are alkyl groups, total of the number of carbons constituting the alkyl groups is 3 or more and each of the alkyl groups may be further substituted, and b, c and d each independently has the same meaning of R1 or R2, wherein a and b may be bonded together to form a condensed ring and e and d may be bonded together to form a condensed ring;
• Z1 represents an electron attractive group having a Hammett substituent constant up value of 0.20 or more;
• Z2 represents hydrogen atom, aliphatic group, aryl group or heterocyclic group;
• and
• Q represents hydrogen atom, aliphatic group, aryl group or heterocyclic group.