Phase change inks containing colorant compounds

A phase change ink composition comprising:

• a phase change ink carrier;
• and
• a colorant compound of the formula
• wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4, each, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group, or (v) an alkylaryl group, wherein R1 and R2 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R3 and R4 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R5 and R6 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R5, R6, R7, and R8, each, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group, or (v) an alkylaryl group, wherein R1 and R2 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R3 and R4 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R5 and R6 can be joined together to form a ring, and wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 can each be joined to a phenyl ring in the central structure, wherein R9, R10, and R11, are each independently of the others optionally included and wherein if included each R9, R10, and R11, independently of the others, is (i) a hydroxy group, (ii) a halogen atom, (iii) an amine group, (iv) an imine group, (v) an ammonium group, (vi) a cyano group, (vii) a pyridine group, (viii) a pyridinium group, (ix) an ether group, (x) an aldehyde group, (xi) a ketone group, (xii) an ester group, (xiii) an amide group, (xiv) a carbonyl group, (xv) a thiocarbonyl group, (xvi) a sulfoxide group, (xvii) a nitrile group, (xviii) a mercapto group, (xix) a nitro group, (xx) a nitroso group, (xxi) a sulfone group, (xxii) an acyl group, (xxiii) an acid anhydride group, (xxiv) an azide group, (xxv) an azo group, (xxvi) a cyanato group, (xxvii) an isocyanato group, (xxviii) a thiocyanato group, (xxix) an isothiocyanato group, (xxx) a urethane group, (xxxi) a urea group, or a mixture or combination thereof, wherein two or more substituents can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R9, R10, and R11 can each be joined to a phenyl ring in the central structure;
• wherein a, b and c each, independently of the others, is an integer which is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• and
• wherein A− is the waxy counter ion.

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 of the formula

• wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4, each, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group, or (v) an alkylaryl group, wherein R1 and R2 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R3 and R4 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R5 and R6 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R5, R6, R7, and R8, each, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group, or (v) an alkylaryl group, wherein R1 and R2 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R3 and R4 can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R5 and R6 can be joined together to form a ring, and wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 can each be joined to a phenyl ring in the central structure, wherein R9, R10, and R11, are each independently of the others optionally included and wherein if included each R9, R10, and R11, independently of the others, is (i) a hydroxy group, (ii) a halogen atom, (iii) an amine group, (iv) an imine group, (v) an ammonium group, (vi) a cyano group, (vii) a pyridine group, (viii) a pyridinium group, (ix) an ether group, (x) an aldehyde group, (xi) a ketone group, (xii) an ester group, (xiii) an amide group, (xiv) a carbonyl group, (xv) a thiocarbonyl group, (xvi) a sulfoxide group, (xvii) a nitrile group, (xviii) a mercapto group, (xix) a nitro group, (xx) a nitroso group, (xxi) a sulfone group, (xxii) an acyl group, (xxiii) an acid anhydride group, (xxiv) an azide group, (xxv) an azo group, (xxvi) a cyanato group, (xxvii) an isocyanato group, (xxviii) a thiocyanato group, (xxix) an isothiocyanato group, (xxx) a urethane group, (xxxi) a urea group, or a mixture or combination thereof, wherein two or more substituents can be joined together to form a ring, wherein R9, R10, and R11 can each be joined to a phenyl ring in the central structure;
• wherein a, b and c each, independently of the others, is an integer which is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• and
• wherein A− is the waxy counter ion;
• (2) melting the ink;
• and
• (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.