Heterocyclic compounds and optical recording materials

A heterocyclic compound represented by general formula (I):

• wherein
• ring A represents a benzene ring optionally substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a haloalkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a nitro group, a sulfonyl group containing a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a sulfinyl group containing a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkylamino group wherein the alkyl has 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a dialkylamino group wherein each alkyl has 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an amido group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom;
• or a naphthalene ring optionally substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a haloalkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a nitro group, a sulfonyl group containing a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a sulfinyl group containing a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkylamino group wherein the alkyl has 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a dialkylamino group wherein each alkyl has 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an amido group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom;
• X represents CRaRb wherein Ra and Rb each represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, which may be united to form a 3- to 6-membered ring;
• R1 and R2 each represent independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7 to 18 carbon atoms;
• R3 and R4 each represent independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or are united to form a heterocycle free from multiple bonds;
• Anq− represents a q-valent anion;
• q represents 1 or 2;
• and p represents a coefficient for satisfying the electric charge neutrality;
• and
• Y1 represents a group represented by general formula (II):
• wherein R5 to R13 each represent independently a hydrogen atom, an optionally halogenated alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in which (a) methylene group(s) in the chain is (are) optionally replaced by —O— or —CO—;
• M represents Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, Cu, Zn, Zr, Cr, Mo, Os, Mn, Ru, Sn, Pd, Rh, or Pt;
• and Z represents a direct bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in which (a) methylene group(s) is (are) optionally replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —SO2—, —NH—, —CONH—, —NHCO—, —N═CH—, or —CH═CH—.