Azo compound, composition for photo-alignment film using the same, and method for producing photo-alignment film

An azo compound represented by a general formula (1):

• (wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydroxy group, or a polymerizable functional group selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acryloyl group, a (meth)acryloyloxy group, a (meth)acrylamide group, a vinyl group, a vinyloxy group, and a maleimide group;
• X1 represents single bond when R1 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A1-B1)m-when R1 is a polymerizable functional group;
• X2 represents a single bond when R2 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A2-B2)n-when R2 is a polymerizable functional group, wherein A1 is bonded to R1, A2 is bonded to R2, and B1 and B2 each is bonded to an adjacent phenylene group;
• A1 and A2 each independently represents a single bond, or a phenylene or arylene group which may have a linear alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, a branched alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms;
• B1 and B2 each independently represents a single bond, —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CO—NH—, —NH—CO—, —NH—CO—O—, or —O—CO—NH—;
• m and n each independently represents an integer of 0 to 4, provided that a plurality of A1(s), B1(s), A2(s) and B2(s) is the same or different when m or n is 2 or more, A1 or A2 interposed between two B1(s) or B2(s) is not a single bond, and a combination of A1 and B1 or a combination of A2 and B2 is not a combination of only a linear alkylene group and —O—;
• R3 and R4 each independently represents —OR7 (wherein, R7 represents an alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted with a lower alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms), a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or —CONR8R9 (wherein, R8 and R9 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms);
• and R5 and R6 each independently represents a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, amino group, or a hydroxy group, provided that a carboxy group and a sulfo group may be bonded to an alkali metal to form a salt).