A mixture of fluoran compounds obtainable by the reaction of mixed keto-acids of formula (II), derived from the reaction of compounds of formula (IV) with compounds of formula (V), together with the compounds of formula (III):
- wherein
- R1 and R2 independently represent hydrogen;
- an alkyl of 1-18 carbon, a secondary alkyl with respect to the carbon atom bonded to the nitrogen atom of 3-13 carbon atoms;
- a cycloalkyl of 4-8 carbon atoms or a phenyl, both of which may be substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms and alkyls having 1-4 carbon atoms, an aralkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms;
- or R1 and R2 together with the adjacent nitrogen atom form a heterocyclic ring;
- R3 is hydrogen;
- an alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms;
- an alkoxy of 1-4 carbon atoms;
- a phenyl;
- a substituted phenyl or a halogen;
- R4 is an alkyl group of 1-18 carbon atoms;
- a carboxyalkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms;
- a carboxycycloalkyl of 4-8 carbon atoms;
- an alkylamino of 1-18 carbon atoms;
- a cycloalkylamino of 4-8 carbon atoms;
- a dialkylamino or dicycloalkylamino, an arylamino;
- a substituted arylamino;
- an aralkylamino of 7-10 carbon atoms;
- a diaralkylamino;
- R5 is an alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms;
- a carboxy alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms or a halogen.