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 steps of:

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