Phthalocyanines and their use in ink-jet printing

Compounds of Formula (1) and salts thereof:

• wherein:
• M is Cu or Ni;
• Pc represents a phthalocyanine nucleus of formula;
• R1 is optionally substituted alkyl other than methyl;
• R2 is H, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl;
• R3 is H, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl;
• R4 is a group comprising a heterocycle and an ionisable group;
• L is a direct bond or a divalent linking group;
• x is 0.1 to 3.8;
• y is 0.1 to 3.8;
• wherein the substituents represented by x, y and z are bound to the phthalocyanine ring only through the β-position and the compounds of formula (1) and salts thereof are prepared by a process which comprises cyclisation of appropriate β-sulfo substituted phthalic acid, phthalonitrile, iminoisoindoline, phthalic anhydride, phthalimide or phthalamide optionally in the presence of a suitable nitrogen source, a copper or nickel salt and a base followed by chlorination and then reaction with groups of formula HNR1R2 and HNR3-L-R4 wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined.