Recording liquid

Claim 2

A non-aqueous organic solvent containing recording liquid containing at least one organic solvent soluble compound represented by formula (I) ##STR33## wherein Z represents an atomic group forming at least one substituted or unsubstituted 5-membered to 7-membered aromatic or heterocyclic ring; Z' represents at least one substituted or unsubstituted 5-membered to 7-membered aromatic or heterocyclic ring which contains in its ring (i) a nitrogen atom acting as a coordinating atom or (ii) a carbon atom to which a nitrogen atom acting as a coordinating atom is directly bonded at a position adjacent to the position to which the azo group is bonded; and G represents a metal-chelating group.

Claim 3

A recording liquid as in claim 1, wherein the aromatic or heterocyclic ring formed by Z or Z' is substituted with one or more of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, an ester group, a carbamoyl group, an acyl group, an acylamino group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonamido group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, an arylamino group, and a hydroxyl group.

Claim 4

The recording liquid as in claim 1, wherein the rings formed by Z and Z' are selected from the group consisting of a benzene ring, a naphthylene ring, a pyridone ring, a quinoline ring, a pyrazole ring, a thiophene ring, an indole ring, and a pyrazolotriazole ring.

Claim 5

A recording liquid as in claim 2, wherein the aromatic or heterocyclic ring formed by Z or Z' is substituted or unsubstituted with one or more of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsulfamoyl group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylsulfamoyl group having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms, an ester group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, a carbamoyl group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, an acyl group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, an acylamino group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, a sulfonyl group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, a sulfonamido group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, an alkylamino or arylamino group represented by the formula ##STR34## wherein R 1 and R 2 each represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or R 1 and R 5 are taken together to form a 5- to 6-membered ring, and a hydroxyl group.

Claim 6

A recording liquid as in claim 1, wherein G is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl ion, a carboxylate ion, a sulfonamido ion, a sulfamoyl ion, an amino group, and an alkylthio group.

Claim 7

A recording liquid as in claim 5, wherein G is a hydroxyl ion.

Claim 8

A recording liquid as in claim 1, wherein said compound has at least one oil-solubilizing group bonded to the dye moiety.

Claim 9

A recording liquid as in claim 7, wherein said oil-solubilizing group is selected from a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 5 to 30 carbon atoms and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from 10 to 35 carbon atoms.

Claim 10

A recording liquid as in claim 1, wherein said compound is represented by formula (II) ##STR35## wherein Z, Z', and G are the same as defined in claim 1; and M represents a divalent metal ion having a coordination number of 6.

Claim 11

A recording liquid as in claim 9, wherein M represents nickel (II), zinc (II), or cobalt (II).

Claim 12

A recording liquid as in claim 9, wherein M represents nickel (II).