Cationic Direct Dyes

Compounds of formula

• wherein
• D is an aromatic or a cationic heteroaromatic group selected from the radicals of formula
• K is an aromatic or heteroaromatic group;
• R1 and R2 independently from each other are hydrogen;
• C1-C12alkyl;
• C1-C12alkyl, which is substituted by hydroxy;
• N+(R3R4R5)—C1-C12alkyl;
• amino-C6-C10aryl;
• N(R6R7)—C1-C8alkyl;
• N(R6R7)—C1-C12alkyl, which is substituted by hydroxy or interrupted by —NR9—;
• C6-C10aryl;
• or
• R1 and R2 together with the linking nitrogen atom form a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring comprising at least two nitrogen atoms;
• R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R9, independently from each other are hydrogen;
• C1-C5alkyl;
• amino-C1-C5alkyl;
• C1-C5alkylamino-C1-C5alkyl;
• or di-C1-C5alkylamino-C1-C5alkyl;
• R10, R11 and R12 independently from each other are hydrogen;
• C1-C12alkyl;
• N(R13R14)—C1-C12alkyl;
• N(R13R14)—C1-C12alkyl which is interrupted by phenylene;
• N+(R13R14R15)—C1-C12alkyl which is interrupted by phenylene;
• R13, R14, R15 independently from each other are hydrogen;
• C1-C5alkyl;
• amino-C1-C5alkyl;
• C1-C5alkylamino-C1-C5alkyl;
• or di-C1-C5alkylamino-C1-C5alkyl;
• E1 and E2 independently from each other are ═CH—;
• or ═N—;
• An is an anion
• a is a number from 1 to 6;
• m and n independently from each other are 0;
• or 1;
• if D is a radical of formula (1a), (1b) or (1e), at least one of the radicals R1, R2, R10, R11 and R12 is substituted by radical comprising at least one amino group;
• if D is a radical of formula (1c) or (1d), at least one of the radicals R1 and R2 is substituted by at least one amino-substituted radical;
• and
• wherein the compounds of formula (1) comprise one to four incipient cations, wherein the incipient cations are pendant to the core structure, and wherein the incipient cations are neutral and comprise optionally one or more C5-C9 hydrophobic moieties.