Pyrrole ring-or condensed pyrrole ring-containing azomethine dye

An azomethine dye represented by the following formula (I) or (II):

• ##STR27## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom;
• X represents --OH or --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6 in which R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic, wherein the heterocyclic is selected from the group consisting of ##STR28## and R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 each independently represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 is an electrophile having a Hammett's substituent constant .sigma.p value in the range of 0.15 to 0.78.

A near infrared absorbing azomethine dye represented by the following formula (I) or (II):

• ##STR29## wherein R.sup.1 represents alkyl, --OR.sup.21 or --NR.sup.22 --CO--R23, wherein R.sup.21 represents alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic, wherein the heterocyclic is selected from the group consisting of ##STR30## R.sup.22 represents hydrogen or alkyl, R.sup.23 represents alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic, wherein the heterocyclic is selected from the group consisting of ##STR31## --OR.sup.21, --NR.sup.22 R.sup.24, and R.sup.24 represent a substituent which is attached to the nitrogen;
• R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom;
• X represents --OH or --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic, wherein the heterocyclic is selected from the group consisting of ##STR32## and R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 each independently represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 is an electrophile having a Hammett's substituent constant .sigma.p value in the range of 0.15 to 0.78.

An azomethine dye represented by the following formula (III):

• ##STR33## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom;
• X represents --OH or --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic, wherein the heterocyclic is selected from the group consisting of ##STR34## and R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 each represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.12 is an electrophile having a Hammett's substituent constant .sigma.p value in the range of 0.3 to 0.78.

A heat transfer dye proving material comprising a support having thereon a dye providing layer containing a heat migrating dye, said dye providing layer comprising at lest one azomethine dye represented by the following formula (I), (II) or (III):

• ##STR35## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom;
• X represents --OH or --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6 ;
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic, wherein the heterocyclic is selected from the group consisting of ##STR36## and R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 each independently represents hydrogen or nonmetallic atom.