Azaphthalocyanines and Their use in Ink Jet Printing

A process for preparing azaphthalocyanine dyes and salts thereof or metallo-azaphthalocyanine dyes and salts thereof which comprises the stages of:

• (a) a compound of Formula (1) with a compound of Formula (2) and a compound of Formula (3) and/or Formula (4):
• wherein:
• R1 and R2 are cyano, carboxy, carboxamide or together form a group of formula
• Q is NO2, F or Cl;
• and
• n is 1 to 4;
• wherein the cyclisation process is carried out in the presence of a suitable nitrogen source (if required) and a metal salt (if required);
• (b) chlorosulfonating the mixture of azaphthalocyanines or metallo-azaphthalocyanines formed in stage (a);
• (c) reacting the mixture of azaphthalocyanines or metallo-azaphthalocyanines carrying sulfonyl chloride groups, formed in stage (b), with ammonia and/or one or more amines.