Ink, ink jet recording method and azo compound

An ink, comprising at least one dye represented by formula (3):

• wherein R10 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group;
• R11 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a sulfo group or a heterocyclic group;
• Het is an aromatic heterocyclic group;
• and R12 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a sulfo group, a heterocyclic group, or a group represented by formula (3-1):
• wherein, in formula (3-1), R10a is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group;
• and Het is an aromatic heterocyclic group;
• in the formula (3), each group on the dye may have a substituent.

An ink-jet-recording method, comprising the step of:

• forming an image with an ink on an image-receiving material having an ink-receiving layer containing white inorganic pigment particles on a support,
• wherein the ink comprises at least one dye represented by formula (1):
• wherein, in formula (1), R1, R2 and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group;
• Z is a nitrogen atom, or a carbon atom to which a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group is bonded;
• and at least one of R1, R2, R3, and the monovalent group that Z has is a substituent having a heterocyclic group substituted with an azo group, wherein, in formula (1), at least two of R1, R2 and R3 each represent a substituent having a heterocyclic group substituted with an azo group.

An ink-jet-recording method, comprising the step of:

• forming an image with an ink on an image-receiving material having an ink-receiving layer containing white inorganic pigment particles on a support,
• wherein the ink comprises at least one dye represented by formula (3):
• wherein R10 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group;
• R11 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a sulfo group or a heterocyclic group;
• Het is an aromatic heterocyclic group;
• and R12 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a sulfo group, a heterocyclic group, or a group represented by formula (3-1):
• wherein, in formula (3-1), R10a is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group;
• and Het is an aromatic heterocyclic group;
• in the formula (3), each group on the dye may have a substituent.

A compound represented by formula (3):

• wherein R10 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group;
• R11 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a sulfo group or a heterocyclic group;
• Het is an aromatic heterocyclic group;
• and R12 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a sulfo group, a heterocyclic group, or a group represented by formula (3-1):
• wherein, in formula (3-1), R10a is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group;
• and Het is an aromatic heterocyclic group;
• in the formula (3), each group on the compound may have a substituent.