Complexing agent for thermal color proofing

A process of forming a dye transfer image comprising imagewise-heating a magenta dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a mixture of magenta dyes and a yellow dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, at least one of the magenta dyes having the formula:

• wherein:
• R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
• X is an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms or represents the atoms which when taken together with R2 forms a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R2 is any of the groups for R′ or represents the atoms which when taken together with X forms a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• J is CO, CO2, —SO2— or CONR5—;
• R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• and
• R5 is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• at least another of the magenta dyes having the formula:
• wherein:
• R6 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonamido group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or an alkylsulfonamido group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• R7 and R8 each individually represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, an alkoxyalkyl group having from 3 to about 8 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having from about 7 to about 10 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having from about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms;
• R9 is hydrogen, halogen, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms or may be taken together with R7 or R8 to form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring;
• and
• R10 is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• said yellow dye having the formula:
• wherein:
• R1, R2 and R3 each individually represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• R4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• said element containing a complexing agent having the formula:
• wherein
• R2, R3, R′2 and R′3 each independently represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• R1 and R′1, each independently represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms or a pyridyl group;
• R4 and R′4 may represent hydrogen or the atoms which together with the pyridine rings to which they are attached form a 6-membered ring;
• R′1 and R2 may represent the atoms necessary to form a 6-membered ring;
• and
• R′1, and R′2 may represent the atoms necessary to form a 6-membered ring.

A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:

• a) a magenta dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a mixture of magenta dyes and a yellow dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, and
• b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, said dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with said magenta dye-donor element so that said dye layer is in contact with said dye image-receiving layer,
• at least one of the magenta dyes having the formula:
• wherein:
• R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
• X is an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms or represents the atoms which when taken together with R2 forms a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R2 is any of the groups for R1 or represents the atoms which when taken together with X forms a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• J is CO, CO2, —SO2— or CONR5—;
• R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• and
• R5 is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• at least another of the magenta dyes having the formula:
• wherein:
• R6 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonamido group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or an alkylsulfonamido group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• R7 and R8 each individually represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, an alkoxyalkyl group having from 3 to about 8 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having from about 7 to about 10 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having from about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms;
• R9 is hydrogen, halogen, an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms or may be taken together with R7 or R8 to form a 5-or 6-membered heterocyclic ring;
• and
• R10 is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• said yellow dye having the formula:
• wherein:
• R1, R2 and R3 each individually represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• R4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• said element contains a complexing agent having the formula:
• wherein
• R2, R3, R′2 and R′3 each independently represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• R1 and R′1 each independently represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms or a pyridyl group;
• R4 and R′4 may represent hydrogen or the atoms which together with the pyridine rings to which they are attached form a 6-membered ring;
• R1 and R2 may represent the atoms necessary to form a 6-membered ring;
• and
• R′1 and R′2 may represent the atoms necessary to form a 6-membered ring.