Phthalocyanines and their use in ink-jet printers

A mixture of phthalocyanine dyes of Formula (1) or salts thereof:

• wherein:
• M is Cu or Ni;
• Pc represents a phthalocyanine nucleus of formula;
• L is optionally substituted C1-20 alkylene, alkyenylene or alkynylene, optionally interrupted by —O—, —NH— or —S—;
• R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently are H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl;
• R5 is H or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl;
• or
• R4 and R5 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached represent an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered aliphatic or aromatic ring system;
• x is 0.1 to 3.8;
• y is 0.1 to 3.8;
• z is 0.1 to 3.8;
• the sum of (x+y+z) is 4;
• the substituents, represented by x, y and z, are attached only to a β-position on the phthalocyanine ring;
• and
• the mixture of dyes of Formula (1) are obtainable by a process which comprises cyclisation of β-sulfo substituted phthalic acid, phthalonitrile, iminoisoindoline, phthalic anhydride, phthalimide or phthalamide in the optional presence of a suitable nitrogen source, and in the presence of a copper or nickel salt, and a base followed by chlorination, amination/amidation.