Method of producing a compound having a colorant structure, and toner containing a compound obtained by the production method

A method of producing a compound represented by formula (1), comprising the steps of:

• (a) polymerizing a vinyl-based polymerizable monomer represented by the formula (A) with a radical initiator having a protective group by living radical polymerization to provide a polymer having the protective group at a terminal thereof;
• (b) hydrolyzing the protective group of the polymer having the protective group at a terminal thereof obtained by the step (a) to deprotect the polymer;
• and
• (c) bonding the deprotected polymer obtained by the step (b) and a colorant to each other through a covalent bond:
• X-L-Y (1)
• in which X represents a polymer portion having a monomer unit derived from the vinyl-based polymerizable monomer represented by formula (A), L represents a linking group, and Y represents a colorant portion;
• and
• in which R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R2 represents a phenyl group, a phenyl group having a substituent, a carboxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or a carboxamide group,
• wherein the vinyl-based polymerizable monomer comprises one of styrene and an acrylic acid ester.