Blue colour filters with enhanced contrast

The invention relates to the field of colour filters. The contrast of reddish-blue phthalocyanine colours filters is surprisingly enhanced by addition of a particular, soluble anthraquinone dye.

Normally, trichromatism is achieved by using one blue, one red and one green filter. These filters must be highly transparent, homogeneous and able to be prepared in a very uniform layer thickness.

The correct position and the absolute value of the transmission window are very important parameters for colour filters. There is a desire for high transmission in the wavelength range surrounding the light emission, coupled with as high as possible an absorption for different-coloured light. In addition, there is a strongly increasing demand for a higher display contrast (ratio of luminances in the ON/OFF states).

Many blue filters are known and in some cases are available commercially. For light stability reasons, it is most preferred to use α copper phthalocyanine (Pigment Blue 15:1 ) and/or especially ε copper phthalocyanine (C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6) as main colourant, sometimes in combination with a small amount of carbazole violet (C. I. Pigment Violet 23).

DE-OS 3509198 discloses green colour filters comprising metal free (C. I. Pigment Blue 16), zinc or lead phthalocyanine combined with anthraquinone pigments.

EP 1 130065 discloses a pigment composition comprising a wet-ground mixture of ε copper phthalocyanine and other pigments, amongst them carbazole violet. WO 02 /04563 is similar, with the difference that owing to particular kneading conditions, a solid solution of ε copper phthalocyanine and carbazole violet is obtained.

US 2005/0 131 114 proposes the use of a mixture of a blue pigment of specific surface area 90 - 140 m ² /g, such as α or preferably ε copper phthalocyanine, with a

violet pigment of specific surface area 100 - 150 nfVg, for example C. I. Pigment Violet 1 , 19, 23, 27, 29, 30, 32, 37, 40, 42 or 50, preferably C. I. Pigment Violet 23, optionally together with an additional violet dyestuff or natural dye.

To increase the transmission of blue light, JP-A-2003/315529 uses C. I. Pigment Violet 23 in combination with β copper phthalocyanine (C. I. Pigment Blue 15:3), which is much more greenish.

JP-A-2001 /066421 discloses red colour filters comprising anthraquinone derivatives of improved light stability.

JP-A-H05/255599 discloses blue colour filters comprising 1 ,4-diphenylamino- anthraquinone colourants having sulfonamide substituents, in which the phenyl groups are further substituted by alkyl. JP-A-H08/ 179120 further adds a 2-bromo substituent in both phenyl groups.

JP-A-2001 / 108815 discloses that 1 ,4-diphenylamino-anthraquinone colourants in which the phenyl groups are further substituted by alkyl (but lacking any other substituents) provide the colour filters with superior spectral characteristics and contrast ratio. There are at least two different layers, which may comprise many further colourants, amongst which C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6.

JP-2002/322380 discloses colour filters comprising blue, bis type anthraquinone dyes which exhibit a better transparency and contrast, as compared with mono anthraquinone dyes and a tri-sulfonamide derivative of copper phthalocyanine.

EP 0695955 and EP 0833203 disclose various resin compositions for colour filters, comprising for example anthraquinone or phthalocyanine colourants.

US-4,793,692 discloses vapor-deposited green colour filters comprising octaphe- nylphthalocyanine and for example anthraquinone colourants. EP 1 102092 disclo- ses colour filters comprising pyridino-phthalocyanine and anthraquinone colourants.

US-6,509,125 discloses multi-layered colour filters comprising polymer-immobilized

colourants having an anthraquinone or triphenylmethane chromophore.

WO-03/080734 discloses anthraquinone dyes for example of the formula

and their use for the mass-colouration of polymers, especially fibers, to produce uniformly coloured materials. There is no hint of combination with other colourants in colour filters.

It has been found, however, that these known filters do not fully meet the present- day requirements. The filters based on copper phthalocyanine have generally an excellent light stability, but the hue, the transparency and the contrast are not fully satisfactory. On the other hand, the filters based on blue anthraquinone colourants have a poorer light stability, while also lacking the optimal hue.

It has now surprisingly been found that the hue, the transparency and the contrast of pigmentary, reddish blue copper phthalocyanines in blue colour filters can be improved by the addition of certain anthraquinone compounds. The light stability and other pigmentary properties remain excellent.

Hence, the invention relates to a process for enhancing the contrast of colour filters comprising α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine, wherein a 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof, of which the most bathochromic dichloromethane solution absorption peak in the visible spectrum is at from 575 to 615 nm, preferably at from 585 to 605 nm,

• is added to α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine and dispersed together with the copper phthalocyanine in a liquid medium;

• is added to a preliminary made suspension comprising a liquid and α copper

phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine, which suspension is then dispersed;

• is added to a preliminary made dispersion comprising a liquid and α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine; or

• is added to a liquid, followed by addition of α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine and dispersion into the liquid; the resulting dispersion comprising both α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine and the 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is applied to a substrate; and a preferably patterned colour filter layer is formed by drying and/or curing.

The visible spectrum ranges from 400 to 700 nm. The absorption of the

1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is adequately determined in dichloromethane at low concentration (for example 100 mg/l). Instead of dichloromethane, one can alternatively also use tetrahydrofuran or acetonitrile, especially if the solubility in dichloromethane is insufficient or aggregation occurs.

The 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof can be used as a pure compound, or optionally as a mixture of several 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dyes or 1 ,9-annellated derivatives thereof of different structures, for example mixtures of isomers or homologues. Depending on its solubility in the liquid used for dispersing the copper phthalocyanine, the 1 ,4-diamino-anthra- quinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof dissolves partially or completely therein upon dispersion.

The dispersion may optionally further comprise customary components in customary amounts. Some customary components are described in more detail below.

The 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is suitably at least partially soluble in usual solvents. Thus, pigmentary colourants such as, for example, C. I. Pigment Violet 1 , 19, 23, 27, 29, 30, 32, 37, 40, 42 or 50, are inadequate. Preferred are 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dyes or 1 ,9-annellated

derivatives thereof substituted by a CONR13R14 or a SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ group as defined below.

The copper phthalocyanine preferably has an average particle size of from 0.01 μm to 0.3 μm, with particular preference from 0.02 μm to 0.2 μm, and with very particular preference from 0.04 μm to 0.1 μm. The copper phthalocyanine is preferably ε copper phthalocyanine (C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6). The 1 ,4-diamino- anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is preferably substituted by a 3-oxy or 3-thio group, especially a 3-phenoxy or 3-phenylthio group.

The amount of copper phthalocyanine is preferably from 0.1 to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of the dispersion, and from 1 to 75% by weight, based on the weight of components of the dispersion which remain on the substrate after drying and/or curing. As described below more in detail, the dispersion usually comprises a binder or a polymerisable compound. The amount of the 1 ,4-diamino- anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is preferably from 0.1 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the copper phthalocyanine.

The 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is more preferably of formula

(I), wherein

X ₂ is O and X ₃ is NH ₂ or NHRn; or X ₂ and X ₃ are together =C(Ri ₂ )-CON(Rn)- or

Ri, R2, R3, R4, R5, Re, R7, Rg and R10 are each independently from all others H,

halogen, CN, CONR _I3 R _H or COORi ₄ , or benzyl or Ci-C ₂ oalkyl which are unsubstituted or one or more times substituted by H, halogen, CN, CONRi ₃ Ri ₄ or COORi ₄ ; or R ₂ and/or R ₉ are alternatively SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ ;

R ₈ is H, CONRi ₃ Ri ₄ or SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ ;

Rn and Ri ₂ are each independently from all others benzyl or Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl which are unsubstituted or one or more times substituted by halogen, OH, O-Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl or CN; or Ri ₂ is alternatively H;

each Ri ₃ independently from any other Ri ₃ is H or Ri ₅ ;

Ri ₄ and Ri ₅ independently from one another, and each Ri ₄ or Ri ₅ independently from any other Ri ₄ or Ri _5, are Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl, C ₃ -C ₂₀ cycloalkyl, C ₂ -C ₂₀ alkenyl,

C ₂ -C ₂₀ alkynyl, C ₃ -C ₂₀ cycloalkenyl or C ₇ -C ₂₀ aralkyl which are each unsubstituted or one or more times substituted by halogen, hydroxy, amino, oxo, thio, Ci-C ₈ alkylamino, di(Ci-C ₈ alkyl)amino, Ci-C ₈ alkoxy or Ci-C ₈ alkylthio; and when Ri ₄ and Ri ₅ comprise aliphatic chains, the aliphatic chains are uninterrupted or interrupted from 1 to -^- times by O, S, NH or N(Ci-C ₈ alkyl), n being the total number of aliphatic carbon atoms in Ri ₄ and Ri ₅ ; and Ri ₄ and Ri ₅ can optionally be linked together through an additional direct bond between them;

and two radicals of formula (I) can optionally be linked together via a direct bond or a group -O-, -S-, -NRi ₄ -, -CO-, -CO ₂ -, -CONRi ₄ - or -CO ₂ - connecting together each a substituent R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ , R ₉ , Rio, Rn, R12 and R ₁₄ from both radicals of formula (I).

Halogen is for example F, Cl, Br or J, preferably F on alkyl and Cl or Br on aryl.

Ci-C ₂₀ Alkyl is, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methyl-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, n-hexyl, heptyl, n-octyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl,

nonadecyl or eicosyl.

C ₃ -C ₂ oCycloalkyl is, for example, cyclopropyl, cyclopropyl-methyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexyl-methyl, trimethylcyclohexyl, thujyl, norbornyl, bornyl, norcaryl, caryl, menthyl, norpinyl, pinyl, 1 -adamantyl, 2-adamantyl, 5α-gonyl, 5ξ-pregnyl, (+) 1 ,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (fenchyl) or, where applicable, the optical antipodes thereof.

C ₂ -C ₂ oAlkenyl is, for example, vinyl, allyl, 2-propen-2-yl, 2-buten-1 -yl, 3-buten-1 -yl, 1 ,3-butadien-2-yl, 2-penten-1 -yl, 3-penten-2-yl, 2-methyl-1 -buten-3-yl, 2-methyl- 3-buten-2-yl, 3-methyl-2-buten-1 -yl, 1 ,4-pentadien-3-yl, or any desired isomer of hexenyl, octenyl, nonenyl, decenyl, dodecenyl, tetradecenyl, hexadecenyl, octadecenyl, eicosenyl, heneicosenyl, docosenyl, tetracosenyl, hexadienyl, octadienyl, nonadienyl, decadienyl, dodecadienyl, tetradecadienyl, hexadecadienyl, octadecadienyl or eicosadienyl.

C ₃ -C ₂ oCycloalkenyl is, for example, 2-cyclobuten-1 -yl, 2-cyclopenten-1 -yl, 2-cyclohexen-1 -yl, 3-cyclohexen-1 -yl, 2,4-cyclohexadien-1 -yl, 1 -p-menthen-8-yl, 4(10)-thujen-10-yl, 2-norbornen-1 -yl, 2,5-norbornadien-1 -yl, 7,7-dimethyl-2,4- norcaradien-3-yl or camphenyl.

Ci-C ₂₀ Alkoxy is O-Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl, and Ci-C ₂ oalkylthio is S-Ci-C ₂ oalkyl.

C ₂ -C ₂₀ Alkynyl is, for example, 1 -propyn-3-yl, 1 -butyn-4-yl, 1 -pentyn-5-yl, 2-methyl- 3-butyn-2-yl, 1 ,4-pentadiyn-3-yl, 1 ,3-pentadiyn-5-yl, 1 -hexyn-6-yl, cis-3-methyl-2- penten-4-yn-1 -yl, trans-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1 -yl, 1 ,3-hexadiyn-5-yl, 1 -octyn-8- yl, 1 -nonyn-9-yl, 1 -decyn-10-yl or 1 -cosyn-20-yl.

C ₇ -C ₂₀ Aralkyl is, for example, benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, 9-fluorenyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, ω-phenyl-octyl, ω-phenyl-dodecyl or 3-methyl- δ^i 'J'^'^'-tetramethyl-butyO-benzyl. C ₇ -C ₂₀ Aralkyl can also be, for example,

2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl-benzyl. When C ₇ -C ₂ oaralkyl is substituted, either the alkyl moiety or the aryl moiety of the aralkyl group can be substituted.

It will be easily understood that -^- should always be considered as an integer only; when n is an odd number, the decimal fraction should be removed from -^- .

Preferably, Xi and X ₂ are O, X ₃ is NH ₂ and R ₆ , R ₉ and Ri ₀ are all H. R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₇ are preferably each independently from all others H, benzyl or Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl which are unsubstituted or one or more times substituted by halogen, whereby preferably at least 4 of Ri, R ₂ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₇ are benzyl or Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl, especially benzyl or unsubstituted Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl.

Independently of or in combination with above preferences, preferably R ₂ is H, SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ , or is benzyl or Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl which are unsubstituted or one or more times substituted by halogen, and R ₈ is SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ . SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ is also preferred to CONRi ₃ Ri ₄ as a substituting group at any other position of the 1 ,4-diamino- anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof, even independently from formula (I).

Preferably, Rn is Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl and Ri ₂ is H, benzyl or Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl, especially H.

Ri ₄ and Ri ₅ are preferably independently from each other Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl, C ₃ -C ₂₀ - cycloalkyl, or C ₇ -C ₂₀ aralkyl which are each unsubstituted or one or more times substituted by hydroxy, Ci-C ₈ alkoxy, amino, Ci-C ₈ alkylamino or di(Ci-C ₈ alkyl)- amino, any aliphatic chains if present being uninterrupted or from 1 to -^- times interrupted by O, NH or N(Ci-C ₈ alkyl), such as in optionally terminally N- or O-alkylated poly-C ₂ -C ₃ alkylene-amino or poly-C ₂ -C ₃ alkylene-oxy groups.

The 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof of formula (I) can be used for colour filters in combination with copper phthalocyanine, especially α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine, as well as in combination with customary other colourants (dyes or pigments), or also as the only colourant.

Accordingly, the invention also pertains to a colour filter comprising a transparent substrate and one layer or multiple layers thereon, at least one layer comprising a

1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof of formula (I).

The 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof is most preferably of formula

(H), wherein

Ri6 is halogen, phenyl, benzyl or Ci-C ₈ alkyl and Ri ₇ is H, Ri ₆ is H and Ri ₇ is

Ci-C ₈ alkyl, or Ri ₆ and Ri ₇ are both H; Ri ₈ is H, halogen, Ci-C ₈ alkyl or SO ₂ NRI ₃ RH; Rig, R ₂ O and R ₂ i are each independently from the others halogen or Ci-C ₈ alkyl; and R ₂₂ is H or, if applicable independently from Ri ₈ , SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ .

In formula (II), preferably Ri ₈ is H or SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ ; and R ₂₂ is H or independently from Ris SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ . These new compounds are also an object of the invention. They can be easily prepared by any methods which are known per se, for example in analogy to the methods disclosed in US-4,403,092.

The sulfonamides are for example adequately prepared by sulfochlorination and reaction of the sulfochloride with an amine NRi ₃ Ri ₄ . At lower temperature, the sulfochlorination generally leads to sulfochloride substituents at positions R ₈ or R ₂₂ , upon gentle heating also at positions R ₂ or Ri ₈ . At higher temperature, however, the sulfochlorination step leads to the partial cleavage of certain carbon substituents Ri or Ri ₆ , such as alkyl or benzyl, especially branched alkyl, such as tert-butyl. This position may then also get sulfochlorinated then further converted to the sulfonamide. Hence, when Ri is H in formula (I), the R ₂ substituent can also take this position para to Xi, and when Ri ₆ is H in formula (II), the Ri ₈ substituent can also take this position para to O:

respectively.

Thus, it is easy to optimize the reaction conditions in order to obtain the desired products or product mixtures, mainly by choosing an adequate temperature for the sulfochlorination step. Product mixtures have often advantages, such as a better solubility or a lower tendency to aggregate.

Hence, the invention also pertains to a compound of formula

(II), wherein

Ri6 is halogen, phenyl, benzyl or Ci-C ₈ alkyl and Ri ₇ is H, Ri ₆ is H and Ri ₇ is

Ci-C ₈ alkyl, or Ri ₆ and Ri ₇ are both H; Ri ₈ is H, halogen, Ci-C ₈ alkyl or SO ₂ NR _I3 R _H ; Rig, R20 and R21 are each independently from the others halogen or Ci-C ₈ alkyl; and R22 is independently from Ri ₈ SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ , with the proviso that at least one of Ri ₈ and R22 is SO ₂ NRi ₃ Ri ₄ , and two radicals of formula (II) can optionally be linked together via a direct bond or a group -O-, -S-, -NRi ₄ -, -CO-, -CO ₂ -, -CONRi ₄ - or

-CO ₂ - connecting together each a substituent Ri ₆ , R17, R18, R19, R20, R21 and Rn from both radicals of formula (II). Ri ₆ is preferably benzyl or Ci-C ₈ alkyl, especially Ci-C ₈ alkyl.

Examples of compounds of formula (II), to which the invention is however not at all limited, are:

and

The compounds of formulae (I) and preferably (II) can also be used for any known colouring purpose, such as for example as solvent or disperse dyes on textiles, paper or other materials, or as colourants in printing inks, plasties and coatings.

A preferred application is the use of a compound of formula (I), preferably of formula (II), for enhancing or modifying the colour of high molecular weight organic materials comprising pigments.

High molecular weight organic materials are of natural or synthetic origin (e.g. polymers)and have usually a molecular weight usually in the range from 10 ³ to 10 ⁸ g/mol. They can be in the form of fibres, surface-coating compositions (including special-effect finishes, including those for the automotive sector) and printing inks, or preferably also in so-called resists (for example for colour filters) or as toners.

Such uses will be so obvious to the person skilled in the art that it is possible to dispense with listing them here. They are also disclosed in numerous patent specifications and technical works, for example "Industrielle Organische Pigmente"

(W. Herbst + K. Hunger, VCH Weinheim / New York, new editions continually published in German and English).

The total amount of colourants, including the compounds of formulae (I) and (II) as well as the pigments, is adequately from 0.01 to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of colourants and high molecular weight organic material. The weight ratio of compounds of formulae (I) and (II) to pigments in the coloured high molecular weight organic material is suitably from 0.001 to 99, preferably from 0.01 to 10.

Pigments useful in combination with compounds of formulae (I) and (II) are, for example, Colour Index Pigment Yellow 3, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24, 34, 42, 53, 62, 74, 83, 93, 95, 108, 109, 1 10, 1 1 1 , 1 19, 123, 128, 129, 139, 147, 150, 164, 168, 173, 174, 184, 188, 191 , 191 :1 , 191 :2, 193, 199, Pigment Orange 5, 13, 16, 34, 40, 43, 48, 49, 51 , 61 , 64, 71 , 73, Pigment Red 2, 4, 5, 23, 48:1 , 48:2, 48:3, 48:4, 52:2, 53:1 , 57, 57:1 , 88, 89, 101 , 104, 1 12, 122, 144, 146, 149, 166, 168, 177, 178, 179, 181 , 184, 190, 192, 194, 202, 204, 206, 207, 209, 214, 216, 220, 221 , 222, 224, 226, 254, 255, 262, 264, 270, 272, 282, 283, Pigment Brown 23, 24, 33, 42, 43, 44, Pigment Violet 19, 23, 29, 31 , 37, 42, Pigment Blue 15, 15:1 , 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 15:6, 16, 28, 29, 60, 64, 66, Pigment Green 7, 17, 36, 37, 50, Pigment White 6, Pigment Black 7, 12, 27, 30, 31 , 32, Vat Red 74, 3,6-di(3'-cyano-phenyl)-2,5-dihydro- pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1 ,4-dione or 3-phenyl-6-(4'-tert-butyl-phenyl)-2,5-dihydro- pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1 ,4-dione.

The invention further pertains to a composition comprising from 0.1 to 70% by weight of α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine, from 0.1 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the copper phthalocyanine, of a 1 ,4-diamino- anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof, of which the most bathochromic dichloromethane solution absorption peak in the visible spectrum is at from 575 to 615 nm, preferably at from 585 to 605 nm, and a liquid medium comprising a binder or a polymerisable compound.

The invention still further also pertains to a colour filter comprising a transparent substrate and one layer or multiple layers thereon, at least one layer (i) comprising a 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof, of which the most bathochromic dichloromethane solution absorption peak in the visible spectrum is at from 575 to 615 nm, preferably at from 585 to 605 nm, and layer (i) or a different layer (ii) comprises an α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine pigment.

The 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof and the α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine are preferably comprised in the

same layer (i). However, it is also possible the 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof and the α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine to be in two different layers, preferably adjacent layers. If the colour filter has a patterned structure, then it is most suitable layer (i) and layer (ii) to exhibit the same pattern, so that their coloured areas match the same pixels.

The number of layers in a multi-layered structure is irrelevant for the purpose of the invention. Generally, a multi-layered structure comprises from 2 to 25 layers, especially from 3 to 10 layers, on the substrate. The layers may be patterned, especially in the case of coloured, black or electrically switchable layers, or uniform, especially in the case of optional intermediate and/or protective layers. The structure of colour filters of different types, in all of which the instant invention is suitable, is well-known in the art.

Preferably, as described above, the amount of copper phthalocyanine is from 1 to 75% by weight, based on the weight of the layer in which it is comprised, and the amount of the 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof in the same layer is from 0.1 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the copper phthalocyanine.

The invention finally pertains to a process for manufacturing a colour filter, wherein a composition comprising from 0.1 to 70% by weight of α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine, from 0.1 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the copper phthalocyanine, of a 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1 ,9-annellated derivative thereof, of which the most bathochromic dichloromethane solution absorption peak in the visible spectrum is at from 575 to 615 nm, preferably at from 585 to 605 nm, and a liquid medium comprising a binder or a polymerisable compound is applied onto a transparent substrate optionally comprising patterned or not patterned layers thereon, and the composition is dried and/or cured to give a patterned or not patterned layer.

The drying, patterning and curing processes are well-known in the art, but are

nevertheless described below in more detail for illustration purpose.

The invention in particular also pertains to the use of the instant pigments in colour filters, which can themselves be used for example in electro-optical systems such as TV screens, computer screens, portable telephone screens, navigation systems, CCD cameras, liquid crystal displays, flat planel displays, charge coupled devices, plasma displays or electroluminescent displays and the like. These may be, for example, active (twisted nematic) or passive (supertwisted nematic) ferroelectric displays or light-emitting diodes.

The colour filters manufactured according to the invention exhibit outstanding hue, light stability, transparency and contrast.

The colourants of the invention will generally be used in the manufacture of colour filters as a solution or dispersion in an organic solvent or water. There are several ways to manufacture these colour filters, which follow two mainstreams:

• Direct patterning during applying; • Patterning after applying the colourant.

Direct patterning can be obtained by several printing techniques, such as impact (off-set, flexography, stamping, letterpress etc.) as well as non-impact (ink jet techniques).

Other direct patterning techniques are based on lamination processes, electronic discharging processes like electro-deposition and some special colour proofing methods, like the so-called Chromalin™ process (DuPont).

For impact printing techniques, colourants may be dissolved or dispersed in water or organic solvents by standard de-agglomeration methods (Skandex, Dynomill, Dispermat and the like) in the presence of a dispersant and a polymeric binder to produce an ink. Any dispersion technique known in the field, including the choice of solvent, dispersant and binder, can be used. The type of ink and its viscosity depend on the application technique and are well-known to the skilled artisan. Most

usual binders, to which the invention is of course not limited, are (meth)acrylates, epoxies, PVA, polyimids, Novolak systems and the like as well as combinations of these polymers.

The ink dispersion then can be printed on all kind of standard printing machines. Curing of the binder system is preferably achieved by a heating process. The three colours can be applied at once or in different printing steps with intermediate drying and/or curing steps, for example one colour at a time in three printing steps.

Inks for use in ink jet, for example piezo or bubble jet, can be prepared likewise. They generally contain a colourant dissolved or dispersed in water and/or one or a mixture of many hydrophilic organic solvents in combination with a dispersant and a binder.

For ink jet printing, a standard ink jet printer can be used or a dedicated printer can be built in order to optimize for example the printing speed etc.

For lamination techniques, like thermal transfer and the like, a web system has to be made: the colourant is dispersed in a solvent or water with dispersant and binder and coated on a foil and dried. The colourant/binder system can be patternwise or uniformly transferred to a colour filter substrate with the help of energy (UV, IR, heat, pressure etc.). Depending on the technique used, the colourant for example may be transferred alone (dye diffusion or sublimation transfer), or the colourant dispersion may be entirely transferred including the binder (wax transfer).

For electrodeposition, the colourant has to be dispersed in water together with an ionized polymer. By means of an electrical current, the ionized polymer is deionized at the anode or the cathode and, being insoluble then, deposited together with the pigments. This can be done on patterned or patternwise shielded, by a photoresist, (transparent) photo-conductors like ITO etc.

The Chromalin™ process makes use of a photosensitive material, deposited on a

colour filter substrate. The material becomes tacky upon UV exposure. The so called 'toner', comprising a mixture or compound of colourant and polymer, is distributed on the substrate and sticks on the tacky parts. This process has to be done three to four times for R ₁ G ₁ B and eventually black.

Patterning after applying is a method based mostly on the known photoresist technology, wherein the colourant is dispersed in the photoresist composition. Other methods are indirect patterning with the help of a separate photoresist or lamination techniques.

The colourant may be dissolved or dispersed into photoresists by any standard method such as described above for the printing processes. The binder systems may also be identical. Further suitable compositions are described for example in EP 0654711 , WO 98/45756 or WO 98/45757.

Photoresists comprise a photoinitiator and a poly-crosslinkable monomer (negative radical polymerization), a material to crosslink the polymers itself (for example a photoacid generator or the like) or a material to chemically change the solubility of the polymer in certain developing media. This process, however, can also be done with heat (for example using thermal arrays or a NIR beam) instead of UV, in the case of some polymers which undergo chemical changes upon heating, resulting in changes of solubility in the mentioned developing media. A photoinitiator is then not needed.

The photosensitive or heat sensible material is coated on a colour filter substrate, dried and UV(or heat) irradiated, sometimes again baked (photoacid generators) and developed with a developing medium (mostly a base). In this last step only the non-exposed (negative systems) or only the exposed (positive systems) parts are washed away, giving the wanted pattern. This operation has to be repeated for all the colours used.

Photosensitive lamination techniques are using the same principle, the only difference being the coating technique. A photosensitive system is applied as

described above, however on a web instead of a colour filter substrate. The foil is placed on the colour filter substrate and the photosensitive layer is transferred with the help of heat and/or pressure.

Indirect processes, with the above mentioned polymeric binders without a photosensitive component, make use of an extra photoresist, coated on top of the pigmented resist. During the patterning of the photoresist, the coloured resist is patterned as well. The photoresist has to be removed afterwards.

More details about the manufacture of colour filters can be found in text books, reviews and other scientific articles. The skilled artisan will associate the instant invention with the use of any such known technique as well.

For example, which is of course in no way limitative, substantially colourless methacrylic resin are commonly used in colour filters, examples thereof which are known to the skilled artisan being copolymers of aromatic methacrylates with methacrylic acid of M _w from 30'0OO to 60O00. Such resins are highly appropriated to make films by spin-coating.

The colour filters of the invention contain the colourant compositions of the invention judiciously in a concentration of from 1 to 75% by weight, preferably from 5 to 50% by weight, with particular preference from 25 to 40% by weight, based on the overall weight of the layer comprising said colourant.

The invention therefore likewise provides a colour filter comprising a transparent substrate and a layer comprising from 1 to 75% by weight, preferably from 5 to 50% by weight, with particular preference from 25 to 40% by weight, based on the overall weight of the layer comprising said colourant, of a colourant composition of the invention or the individual components of said composition dispersed in a high molecular mass organic material. The substrate is preferably essentially colourless (T > 95% all over the visible range from 400 to 700 nm).

The instant printing inks or photoresists for making colour filters contain the

colourant or colourant compositions of the invention judiciously in a concentration of from 0.01 to 40% by weight, preferably from 1 to 25% by weight, with particular preference from 5 to 10% by weight, based on the overall weight of the printing ink or photoresist.

The invention therefore likewise provides a composition for making colour filters comprising from 0.01 to 40% by weight, preferably from 1 to 25% by weight, with particular preference from 5 to 10% by weight, based on the overall weight of the composition, of a colourant or colourant composition of the invention dispersed therein.

This colourant composition also may additionally contain other colourants of different structure. The additional components will shift the mixture's spectrum hypsochromically or bathochromically depending on their own hue. The skilled artisan will appreciate by himself which colourants can additionally be used, and in which amounts, depending on the desired colour.

In certain cases, it is advantageous to use the inventive compositions in mixture or in combination with other additives such as wetting agents, surfactants, defoamers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilizers, plastisizers, or general texture improving agents and so forth. Generally such additives can be used in a concentration from about 0.1 to 25 percent, preferably from about 0.2 to 15 % and most prefer- ably from about 0.5 to 8 %, by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b) and (c).

Surfactants are generally used to disperse insoluble components, such as the copper phthalocyanine pigments. They may also be used for example with instant 1 ,4-diamino-anthraquinone dyes or 1 ,9-annellated derivatives thereof of low solubility; however, when the whole colourant is totally dissolved, it is generally judicious not to use surfactants, as this might lead to scattering and to a lower contrast. Cationic, anionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or neutral nonionic surfactants are very well known to the person skilled in the art. Suitable surfactants include for example anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene- or alkylnaphthalene-sulfonates, alkylsulfosuccinates or naphthalene formaldehyde sulfonates; cationic surfactants

including, for example, quaternary salts such as benzyl tributyl ammonium chloride; or nonionic or amphoteric surfactants such as polyoxyethylene surfactants and alkyl- or amidopropyl betaines, respectively. Most preferred surfactant, which leads to excellent colourant dispersions and especially highly transparent colour filters, is EFKA ^® 3440 (CIBA Specialty Chemicals Inc.).

Suitable texture improving agents are, for example, fatty acids such as stearic acid or behenic acid, and fatty amines such as laurylamine and stearylamine. In addition, fatty alcohols or ethoxylated fatty alcohols, polyols such as aliphatic 1 ,2- diols or epoxidized soy bean oil, waxes, resin acids and resin acid salts may be used for this purpose.

Suitable UV stabilizers are, for example, the known benzotriazole derivatives known under the trade name TINUVIN ^® or CIBA ^® Fast H Liquid an aryl sulfonated benzotriazol, both being products of CIBA Specialty Chemicals Inc.

The skilled artisan will obviously recognize that there are many other possible applications in all fields where colourants are used, such as inks, coatings and polymers. The instant colourant or colourant compositions will prove particularly useful alone or in combination with fine or transparent pigments. Where ever the thermal colour stability is an issue, it is worth to try resolving it by using the instant compositions, with a reasonable expectation of much better results to be obtained. Typical examples are coil- and powder coatings, extruded or injection moulded engineering plastics as well as melt-spun fibers, this list self-evidently not being exhaustive.

The materials used for manufacturing colour filters according to above-mentioned and other processes are well-known in the art.

For example, a binder may be used which is alkali-soluble, preferably a linear organic polymer that is soluble in an organic solvent and developable with a weak alkali aqueous solution. As such binder used in a colour filter resist composition, which is soluble in an alkaline aqueous solution and insoluble in water, for example,

a homopolymer of a polymerizable compound having one or more acid groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds in the molecule, or a copolymer of two or more kinds thereof, and a copolymer of one or more polymerizable compounds having one or more unsaturated bonds copolymerizable with these compounds and containing no acid group, can be used. Such compounds can be obtained by copolymerizing one or more kinds of a low molecular compound having one or more acid groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds in the molecule with one or more polymerizable compounds having one or more unsaturated bonds copolymerizable with these compounds and containing no acid group. Examples of acids groups are a -COOH group, a -SO ₂ NHCO- group, a -SO ₃ H group, a phenolic hydroxy group, a -SO ₂ NH- group, and a -CO-NH-CO- group. Among those, a high molecular compound having a -COOH group is particularly preferred.

Preferably, the organic polymer binder in the colour filter resist composition comprises an alkali soluble copolymer comprising, as addition polymerizable monomer units, at least an unsaturated organic acid compound such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and the like. It is preferred to use as a further co-monomer for the polymer binder an unsaturated organic acid ester compound such as methyl acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, styrene and the like to balan- ce properties such as alkaline solubility, adhesion rigidity, chemical resistance etc.

The organic polymer binder can for example be either a random copolymer or a block copolymer, such as described in US-5,368,976.

Polymerizable compounds suitable for the preparation of colour filters according to the invention, are also well-known in the art. They may for eaxmple have one or more acid group and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bond in the molecule.

Examples of the polymerizable compounds having one or more -COOH groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds in a molecule are (meth)acrylic acid, 2-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylic acid, 2-carboxypropyl (meth)acrylic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] succinate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyl-

oxyethyl] adipate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] phthalate, mono[2-(meth)acryl- oyloxyethyl] hexahydrophthalate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] maleate, mono- [2-(meth)acryloyloxypropyl] succinate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxypropyl] adipate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxypropyl] phthalate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxypropyl] hexahydrophthalate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxypropyl] maleate, mono[2-(meth)- acryloyloxybutyl] succinate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxybutyl] adipate, mono- [2-(meth)acryloyloxybutyl] phthalate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxybutyl] hexahydrophthalate, mono[2-(meth)acryloyloxybutyl] maleate, 3-(alkylcarbamoyl)acrylic acid, α-chloroacrylic acid, maleic acid, monoesterified maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, maleic anhydride, and ω-carboxypolycapro- lactone mono(meth)acrylate.

Vinylbenzenesulfonic acid and 2-(meth)acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid are examples of the polymerizable compounds having one or more -SO ₃ H groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds.

N-methylsulfonyl (meth)acrylamide, N-ethylsulfonyl (meth)acrylamide, N-phenyl- sulfonyl (meth)acrylamide, and N-(p-methylphenylsulfonyl) (meth)acrylamide are examples of the polymerizable compounds having one or more -SO ₂ NHCO- groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds.

Examples of polymerizable compounds having one or more phenolic hydroxy groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds in a molecule include hydroxyphenyl (meth)acrylamide, dihydroxyphenyl (meth)acrylamide, hydroxy- phenyl-carbonyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxyphenyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxyphenylthioethyl (meth)acrylate, dihydroxyphenylcarbonyloxyethyl (meth)- acrylate, dihydroxyphenyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, and dihydroxy-phenylthioethyl (meth)acrylate.

Examples of the polymerizable compound having one or more -SO ₂ NH- groups and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bonds in the molecule include compounds represented by formula (a) or (b):

CH ₂ =CHAI-YI-A ₂ -SO ₂ -NH-A ₃ (a) CH ₂ =CHA ₄ -Y ₂ -A ₅ -NH-SO ₂ -A ₆ (b)

wherein Y ₁ and Y ₂ each represents -COO-, -CONA ₇ -, or a single bond; A ₁ and A ₄ each represents H or CH ₃ ; A ₂ and A ₅ each represents d-C ₁₂ alkylene optionally having a substituent, cycloalkylene, arylene, or aralkylene, or C ₂ -C ₁₂ alkylene into which an ether group and a thioether group are inserted, cycloalkylene, arylene, or aralkylene; A ₃ and A ₆ each represents H, d-C ₁₂ alkyl optionally having a substituent, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; and A ₇ represents H, d-C ₁₂ alkyl optionally having a substituent, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group.

The polymerizable compounds having one or more -CO-NH-CO- group and one or more polymerizable unsaturated bond include maleimide and N-acryloyl-acryl- amide. These polymerizable compounds become the high molecular compounds comprising a -CO-NH-CO- group, in which a ring is formed together with a primary chain by polymerization. Further, a methacrylic acid derivative and an acrylic acid derivative each having a -CO-NH-CO- group can be used as well. Such methacrylic acid derivatives and the acrylic acid derivatives include, for example, a methacryl- amide derivative such as N-acetylmethacrylamide, N-propionylmethacrylamide, N-butanoylmethacrylamide, N-pentanoylmethacrylamide, N-decanoylmethacryl- amide, N-dodecanoylmethacrylamide, N-benzoylmethacrylamide, N-(p-methylbenz- oyl)methacryl-amide, N-(p-chlorobenzoyl)methacrylamide, N-(naphthyl-carbonyl)- methacrylamide, N-(phenylacetyl)-methacryl-amide, and 4-methacryloylamino- phthalimide, and an acrylamide derivative having the same substituent as these. These polymerizable compounds polymerize to be compounds having a -CO-NH-CO- group in a side chain.

Examples of polymerizable compounds having one or more polymerizable unsaturated bond and containing no acid group include a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated bond, selected from esters of (meth)acrylic acid, such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, propyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)- acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl

(meth)acrylate, hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, glycerol mono(meth)acrylate, di hydroxypropyl (meth)- acrylate, allyl (meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, phenyl (meth)acrylate, methoxyphenyl (meth)acrylate, methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl (meth)- acrylate, methoxydiethyleneglycol (meth)acrylate, methoxytriethyleneglycol (meth)- acrylate, methoxypropyl (meth)acrylate, methoxydipropyleneglycol (meth)acrylate, isobornyl meth(acrylate), dicyclopentadienyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxy- propyl (meth)acrylate, tricyclo[5.2.1.0 ² ' ⁶ ]decan-8-yl (meth)acrylate, aminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N, N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, aminopropyl (meth)acryl- ate, N, N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 2-methyl- glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 3,4-epoxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 6,7-epoxyheptyl (meth)- acrylate; vinyl aromatic compounds, such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, vinyl- toluene, p-chlorostyrene, polychlorostyrene, fluorostyrene, bromostyrene, ethoxymethyl styrene, methoxystyrene, 4-methoxy-3-methylstyrene, dimethoxy- styrene, vinylbenzyl methyl ether, vinylbenzyl glycidyl ether, indene, 1 -methyl- indene; vinyl or allyl esters, such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butylate, vinyl pivalate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl trimethylacetate, vinyl diethylacetate, vinyl borate, vinyl caproate, vinyl chloroacetate, vinyl dichloroacetate, vinyl methoxy- acetate, vinyl butoxyacetate, vinyl phenylacetate, vinyl acetate, vinyl acetoacetate, vinyl lactate, vinyl phenylbutylate, vinyl cyclohexylcarboxylate, vinyl salicylate, vinyl chlorobenzoate, vinyl tetrachlorobenzoate, vinyl naphthoate, allyl acetate, allyl propionate, allyl butylate, allyl pivalate, allyl benzoate, allyl caproate, allyl stearate, allyl acetoacetate, allyl lactate; vinyl or allyl ethers, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl hexyl ether, vinyl octyl ether, vinyl ethylhexyl ether, vinyl methoxy- ethyl ether, vinyl ethoxyethyl ether, vinyl chloroethyl ether, vinyl hydroxyethyl ether, vinyl ethybutyl ether, vinyl hydroxyethoxyethyl ether, vinyl dimethylaminoethyl ether, vinyl diethylaminoethyl ether, vinyl butylaminoethyl ether, vinyl benzyl ether, vinyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether, vinyl phenyl ether, vinyl tolyl ether, vinyl chlorophenyl ether, vinyl chloroethyl ether, vinyl dichlorophenyl ether, vinyl naphthyl ether, vinyl anthryl ether, allyl glycidyl ether; amide type unsaturated compounds, such as

(meth)acrylamide, N, N-dimethyl (meth)acrylamide, N, N-diethyl (meth)acrylamide,

N, N-dibutyl (meth)acrylamide, N, N-diethylhexyl (meth)acrylamide, N, N-dicyclo- hexyl (meth)acrylamide, N, N-diphenyl (meth)acrylamide, N-methyl-N-phenyl (meth)acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl-N-methyl (meth)acrylamide, N-methyl (meth)- acrylamide, N-ethyl (meth)acrylamide, N-propyl (meth)acrylamide, N-butyl (meth)- acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylamide, N-heptyl (meth)acrylamide, N-octyl (meth)acrylamide, N-ethyhexyl (meth)acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl (meth)acryl- amidecyclohexyl, N-benzyl (meth)acrylamide, N-phenyl (meth)acrylamide, N-tolyl (meth)acrylamide, N-hydroxyphenyl (meth)acrylamide, N-naphthyl (meth)acryl- amide, N-phenylsulfonyl (meth)acrylamide, N-methylphenylsulfonyl (meth)acryl- amide and N-(meth)acryloylmorpholine, diacetone acrylamide, N-methylol acrylamide, N-butoxyacrylamide; polyolefin type compounds, such as butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene and the like; (meth)acrylonitrile, methyl isopropenyl ketone, maleimide, N-phenylmaleimide, N-methylphenylmaleimide, N-methoxyphenyl- maleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-alkylmaleimide, maleic anhydride, poly- styrene macromonomer, polymethyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer, polybutyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer; crotonates, such as butyl crotonate, hexyl crotonate, glycerine monocrotonate; and itaconates, such as dimethyl itaconate, diethyl itaconate, dibutyl itaconate; and maleates or fumarates, such as dimethyl maleate, dibutyl fumarate.

Preferable examples of copolymers are copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate and (meth)acrylic acid, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate and (meth)acrylic acid, copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate/, ethyl (meth)acrylate and (meth)acrylic acid, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid and styrene, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid and 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate/, butyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid and styrene, copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, (metha)crylic acid and hydroxyphenyl (meth)acrylate, copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate, (metha)crylic acid and polymethyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer, copolymers of benzyl (meth)crylate, (metha)crylic acid and polymethyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer, copolymers of tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, styrene and (meth)acrylic acid, copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid and

polystyrene macromonomer, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid and polystyrene macromonomer, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and polystyrene macromonomer, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate and polystyrene macromonomer, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acryl- ate, (meth)acrylic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl (meth)acrylate and polymethyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer, copolymers of methyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and polystyrene macromonomer, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (metha)crylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and poly- methyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer, copolymers of N-phenylmaleimide, benzyl (meth)acrylate, (metha)crylic acid and styrene, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acryl- ate, (meth)acrylic acid, N-phenylmaleimide, mono-[2-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] succinate and styrene, copolymers of allyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, N-phenylmaleimide, mono-[2-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] succinate and styrene, co- polymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, N-phenylmaleimide, glycerol mono(meth)acrylate and styrene, copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, ω-carboxy- polycaprolactone mono(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, N-phenylmaleimide, glycerol mono(meth)acrylate and styrene, and copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, N-cyclohexylmaleimide and styrene.

There can be used as well hydroxystyrene homo- or co-polymers or a novolak type phenol resin, for example, poly(hydroxystyrene) and poly(hydroxystyrene-co- vinylcyclohexanol), a novolak resin, a cresol novolak resin, and a halogenated phenol novolak resin. More specifically, it includes, for example, the methacrylic acid copolymers, the acrylic acid copolymers, the itaconic acid copolymers, the crotonic acid copolymers, the maleic anhydride co-polymers, for example, with styrene as a co-monomer, and maleic acid copolymers, and partially esterified maleic acid copolymers each described in, for example, JP-B-S59/44615, JP-B-S54/34327, JP-B-S58/ 12577, JP-B-S54/25957, JP-A-S59/53836, JP-A-S59/71 048, JP-A-S60/ 159743, JP-A-S60/258539, JP-A-H01 / 152449, JP-A-H02 / 199403 and JP-A-H02 / 199404, and which copolymers can be further reacted with an amine, as e.g disclosed in US-5,650,263; further, a cellulose

derivative having a carboxyl group on a side chain can be used, and particularly preferred are copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate and (meth)acrylic acid and copolymers of benzyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid and other monomers, for example as described in US-4,139,391 , JP-B-S59/44615, JP-A-S60/ 159743 and JP-A-S60/258539.

With respect to those having carboxylic acid groups among the above organic binder polymers, it is possible to react some or all of the carboxylic acid groups with glycidyl(meth)acrylate or an epoxy(meth)acrylate to obtain photopolymerizable organic binder polymers for the purpose of improving the photosensitivity, coating film strength, the coating solvent and chemical resistance and the adhesion to the substrate. Examples are disclosed in JP-B-S50/34443 and JP-B-S50/34444, US-5,153,095, US-5,650,233 and US-5,677,385, as well as by T. Kudo et al. in J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 37 (1998), p. 3594-3603. The entire contents of all above- mentioned patents and patent applications is enclosed herein by reference.

Among these various kinds of alkali-soluble binders, acrylic acid homo- and copolymers as well as methacrylic acid homo- and copolymers are particularly preferred.

The weight-average molecular weight of the binders is preferably from 500 to rOOO'000, e.g. from 3'00O to 1 '000OOO, more preferably from 5'00O to 400O00.

The content of an alkali-soluble binder in the dye-containing curable resin composition is preferably from 10 to 90% by weight, more preferably from 20 to 80% by weight, and particularly preferably from 30 to 70% by weight, based on the total solid content of the dye-containing curable resin composition.

Photopolymerisable vinyl compounds are also well known to the person skilled in the art. These monomers contain at least one ethylenic double bond and usually have a boiling point of 100°C or more.

Examples of suitable photopolymerisable vinyl compounds are polyethylene glycol

monoacrylate, polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate, polypropylene glycol monoacrylate, polypropylene glycol monomethacrylate, phenoxyethyl acrylate, phenoxyethyl methacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane triamethacrylate, neopentylglycol diacrylate, neopentylglycol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol triamethacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentamethacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexameth- acrylate, tri(acryloyloxyethyl)isocyanurate. Preferred photopolymerisable vinyl compounds are dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate and dipentaerythritol pentamethacrylate.

The total content of such a photopolymerisable vinyl compound in a colourant- containing curable composition is, while it varies depending on the material thereof, generally from 5 to 70% by weight, preferably from 5 to 50% by weight, and particularly preferably from 7 to 30% by weight, based on the solid content of the composition.

Suitable photoinitiators are also well-known to the person skilled in the art and are preferably selected from halomethyloxadiazols, halomethyl-s-triazines, 3-aryl- substituted coumarins, benzophenones, acetophenones, cyclopentadiene- benzene-iron complexes, oxime esters and oximes.

Suitable photoinitiators are described, for example, in GB-2,339,571 , US-6,485,885, GB-2,358,017, GB-2,357,293, WO-02/ 100903, J. Photopolym. Sci. Technol. 15, 51 -57 (2002), IP. com. Journal IPCOM 000012462D, 3(6), 101 -109 (2003), US-2004/0 102548, US-2004/0 102673, PCT/ EP2006/068202 and PCT/ EP2006/068254.

Preferred photoinitiators are benzophenones of the formula wherein R ₂ 3, R24 and R25 independently of one another are hydrogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl,

Ci-C ₄ -halogenalkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, chlorine or N(Ci-C ₄ -alkyl) ₂ ; R26 is hydrogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -halogenalkyl, phenyl, N(Ci-C ₄ -alkyl) ₂ , COOCH ₃ ,

and n is 2-10.

Specific examples are ESACURE TZ ^" T ^® available from Lamberti, (a mixture of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone) and DAROCUR ^® BP (benzophenone).

Further preferred photoinitiators are alpha-hydroxy ketones, alpha-alkoxyketones or

alpha-aminoketones of the formula , wherein R ₂₇ is hydrogen or

Ci-Cis-alkoxy; R ₂₈ is hydrogen, Ci-Ci ₈ -alkyl, Ci-Ci ₂ hydroxyalkyl ,Ci-Ci ₈ -alkoxy, -OCH ₂ CH ₂ -OR ₃₂ , morpholino, Ci-d ₈ alkyl-S-, a group H ₂ C=CH-, H ₂ C=C(CH ₃ )- ,

a, b and c are 1 -3; n is 2-10 ; G ₃ and G ₄ independently of one another are end groups of the polymeric structure, preferably hydrogen or methyl; R ₂₉ is hydroxy, Ci-Cie-alkoxy, morpholino, dimethylamino or -O(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _m -Ci-Ci ₆ -alkyl; R ₃₀ and R ₃ i independently of one another are hydrogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-Cie-alkoxy or

-O(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _m -Ci-Ci ₆ -alkyl; or unsubstituted phenyl or benzyl; or phenyl or benzyl substituted by Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl; or R ₃ o and R31 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cyclohexyl ring; m is 1 -20; with the proviso that R ₂ 9, R30 and R31 are not all together Ci-Ci6-alkoxy or -O(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _m -Ci-Ci ₆ -alkyl; and R ₃₂ is

hydrogen, _^ _C - _C H ₂ or Il |_ ³ _C| , .

Specific examples are 1 -hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone, a mixture of 1 -hydroxy- cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone with benzophenone, 2-methyl-1 [4-(methylthio)phenyl]- 2-morpholinopropan-1 -one, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1 -(4-morpholinophenyl)- butanone-1 , 2-dimethylamino-2-(4-methyl-benzyl)-1 -(4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)- butan-1 -one, 1 -[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1 -propan-1 -one, 2,2-dimethoxy-1 ,2-diphenylethan-1 -one, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1 -phenyl-propan- 1 -one, 2-hydroxy-1 -{4-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propionyl)-benzyl]-phenyl}-2-meth yl- propan-1 -one, 2-benzyl-1 -(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-dimethylamino-butan-1 -one, 2-hydroxy-1 -{4-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propionyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-met hyl-

propan-1 -one, , ESACU RE ^® KIP provided by Fratelli

Lamberti and 2-hydroxy-1 -{1 -[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propionyl)-phenyl]- 1 ,3,3-trimethyl-indan-5-yl}-2-methyl-propan-1 -one.

Further preferred photoinitiators are acylphosphine oxides of the formula O O

R^ ₄ -P-R ₃₅ , wherein R ₃₃ and R ₃₄ independently of one another are unsubstituted

^R 33 Ci-C ₂₀ -alkyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl; or Ci-C ₂₀ -alkyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl substituted by halogen, Ci-Ci2-alkyl, Ci-Ci ₂ -alkoxy, Ci-Ci ₂ alkylthio or NR ₃₆ R ₃ Z, or R ₃₃ and R ₃₄ are independently of one another -(CO)R ₃₅ ; R ₃ e and R ₃₇ independently of one another

are hydrogen, unsubstituted Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl or Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl substituted by OH or SH wherein the alkyl chain may be interrupted by one to four oxygen atoms; or R ₃ e and R37 independently of one another are C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl or phenyl; R35 is unsubstituted cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl, or cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl substituted by halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and/or Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy; or R35 is a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring having an S atom or N atom. Specific examples thereof are bis(2,4,6-trimethyl- benzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide, bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenyl-ethoxy- phosphine oxide, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide and bis(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide.

Further preferred photoinitiators are titanocenes of the formula , wherein

R ₃ S and R39 independently of one another are cyclopentadienyl optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted by Ci-Ci ₈ -alkyl, Ci-Ci8-alkoxy, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or halogen; R ₄₀ and R ₄ i are phenyl having at least one F or CF ₃ substituent in ortho position to the Ti-C bond and having at least a further substituent which is unsubstituted pyrrolinyl or polyoxaalkyl or which is pyrrolinyl or polyoxaalkyl substituted by one or two Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, di(Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl)aminomethyl, morpholinomethyl, C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, trimethylsilyl,

formyl, methoxy or phenyl; or R ₄₀ and R ₄ i are ; G ₅ is O, S, or NR ₄₅ ; R ₄₂ , R ₄ 3 and R ₄₄ independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, Ci-Ci ₂ alkoxy, C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkoxy interrupted by one to four oxygen atoms, cyclohexyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, unsubstituted phenyl or biphenyl or phenyl or biphenyl substituted by Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, halogen, phenylthio or Ci-C ₄ -alkylthio, with the proviso that R ₄₂ and R ₄₄ are not both hydrogen and that,

with respect to the residue at least one substituent R42 or R ₄₄ is

Ci-Ci ₂ alkoxy or d-Ci ₂ alkoxy interrupted by one to four oxygen atoms, cyclohexyl- oxy, cyclopentyloxy, phenoxy or benzyloxy; and R45 is Ci-C ₈ alkyl, phenyl or cyclophenyl. Specific examples thereof are bis(η5-2,4-cyclopentadien-1 -yl)- bis(2,6-difluoro-3-(1 H-pyrrol-1 -yl)-phenyl)-titanium and bis(2,6-difluorophenyl)- bis[(1 ,2,3,4,5-η)-1 -methyl-2,4-cyclopentadien-1 -yl]-titanium.

Further preferred photoinitiators are phenylglyoxalates of the formula

R ₄₇ , R48, R49, R50 and R51 independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl or Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl substituted by OH, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, phenyl, naphthyl, halogen or CN; wherein the alkyl chain optionally is interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms; or R ₄₇ , R48, R49, R50 and R51 independently of one another are Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, Ci-C ₄ -alkythio or NR36R37, R36 and R37 independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl or Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl substituted by OH or SH wherein the alkyl chain optionally is interrupted by one to four oxygen atoms; or R ₃ e and R37 independently of one another are C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl or phenyl; and Yi is Ci-Ci ₂ -alkylene optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms. A specific example thereof is oxo-phenyl-acetic acid 2-[2-(2-oxo- 2-phenyl-acetoxy)-ethoxy]-ethyl ester.

Further preferred photoinitiators are oxime esters of the formula

O O

R 53 pN-O— R ₅₂ , wherein z is O or 1 ; R ₅₂ is hydrogen, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl;

R ^■ 54

Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen, phenyl and/or CN; or R ₅₂ is C ₂ -C ₅ alkenyl; phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by

one or more Ci-C ₆ alkyl, halogen, CN, OR55, SR ₅₆ and/or NR57R58; or R52 is Ci-C ₈ - alkoxy, benzyloxy; or phenoxy which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more Ci-C ₆ alkyl and/or halogen; R53 is phenyl, naphthyl, benzoyl or naphthoyl, each of which is substituted 1 to 7 times by halogen, Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenoxycarbonyl, C ₂ -Ci ₂ alkoxycarbonyl, OR55, SR ₆₄ SOR56, SO2R56 and/or NR57R58, wherein the substituents OR55, SR ₅₆ and NR57R58 optionally form 5- or 6-membered rings via the radicals R55, Rse, R57 and/or R ₅₈ with further substituents on the phenyl or naphthyl ring; or each of which is substituted by phenyl or by phenyl which is substituted by one or more OR55, SR ₅₆ and/or NR57R58; or R53 is

thioxanthylor ; R ₅₄ is hydrogen; unsubstituted Ci-C ₂ oalkyl or

Ci-C ₂ oalkyl substituted by one or more halogen, OR55, phenyl; or is C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl; phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more Ci-C ₆ alkyl, phenyl, halogen, OR55, SR ₅₆ and/or NR57R58; or is C ₂ -C ₂₀ alkanoyl or benzoyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more Ci-C ₆ alkyl, phenyl, OR55, SR ₅₆ and/or NR57R58; or is C ₂ -Ci ₂ alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, CN, -CONR57R58, NO ₂ , Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, S(O) _y -Ci-C ₆ alkyl or S(O) _y -phenyl; y is 1 or 2; R ₅₅ and R ₅₆ independently of one another are hydrogen, Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl, C ₂ -Ci ₂ alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, phenyl-Ci-C ₃ alkyl; or are Ci-C ₈ alkyl which is substituted by -OH, -SH, -CN, Ci-C ₈ alkanoyl, benzoyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more Ci-C ₆ alkyl, halogen, -OH, Ci-C ₄ alkoxy or Ci-C ₄ alkylsulfanyl; or are phenyl or naphthyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl, Ci-Ci ₂ alkoxy, phenyl-Ci-C ₃ alkyloxy, phenoxy, Ci-Ci ₂ alkylsulfanyl, phenylsulfanyl, -N(Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl) ₂ , diphenylamino; R57 and R ₅₈ independently of one another are independently of each other are hydrogen, Ci-C ₂₀ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ hydroxyalkyl, C ₂ -Ci ₀ alkoxyalkyl, C ₂ -C ₅ alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, phenyl-Ci-C ₃ alkyl, Ci-C ₈ alkanoyl, C ₃ -Ci ₂ alkenoyl, benzoyl; or are phenyl or naphthyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl, benzoyl or Ci-Ci ₂ alkoxy; or R ₅₇ and R ₅₈ together are C ₂ -C ₆ alkylene optionally interrupted by -O- or -NR ₅₅ - and/or optionally substituted by hydroxyl, Ci-C ₄ alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₄ alkanoyloxy or benzoyloxy; R ₅₉ is Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl,

phenyl, Ci-Ci ₂ alkylphenyl or 2-(2'-tetrahydrofuryl)-phenyl. Specific examples thereof are 1 ,2-octanedione 1 -[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-2-(O-benzoyloxime), ethanone 1 -[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1 -(O-acetyloxime) and 9H-thioxanthene-2-carboxaldehyde 9-oxo-2-(O-acetyloxime).

A further example of a photoinitiator is Esacure ^® 1001 available from Lamberti: 1 -[4-(4-benzoylphenylsulfanyl)phenyl]-2-methyl-2-(4-methylphe nylsulfonyl)propan-

The most preferred photoinitiators are the following compounds:

The photoinitiator may be used in combination with a sensitizer and/or a photostabiliser.

The total content of the photoinitiator is preferably from 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0.05 to 8% by weight, and particularly preferably from 1 to 5% by weight, based on the solid content of the composition.

Upon preparation of the dye-containing curable composition, a solvent is generally used. The solvent is not particularly limited as far as it satisfies solubility to the respective components and coating property of the dye-containing curable composition and it is preferably selected under particular consideration of the solubility of the alkali-soluble binder, the coating property and the safety.

Suitable solvents include esters, e.g. ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, butyl butyrate and methyl methoxyacetate, ether esters such as 1-methoxy-2-propyl-acetate (PGMEA), 2-methoxy-1-propyl-acetate, methylcellosolve acetate, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, butylcarbitol acetate and polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA), ethers, e.g. tetrahydrofuran, ketones, e.g. 2-butanone, cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone, and aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene.

Figure 1 shows the absorption spectrum of the product according to example 2. Figure 2 shows the transmission spectrum of a colour filter obtained using the product according to example 2.

The examples which follow illustrate the invention, without limiting it ("%" are by weight where not otherwise specified):

Example 1 : 23 g chlorosulfonic acid are added dropwise under cooling to 0-5°C to 50 g 1 -amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenylami no)-anthraqui- none at such a rate, that the temperature does not exceed 10°C. After completion of the addition (about 30 min), the temperature is allowed to rise to 19°C. The reaction mixture is then carefully poured into 21 of ice-water. The resulting violet suspension of 3-[4-amino-3-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-9, 10-dioxo-9, 10-dihydro- anthracen-1-ylamino]-2,4,6-trimethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride is filtered and further used as a wet press-cake in the next step. The previously prepared intermediate is in turn suspended in tetrahydrofuran and cooled down to 0°C. Dropwise addition of an excess of 2-amino-ethanol at 0°C results in a violet solution, which is then concentrated on a rotary evaporator. Addition of 2 I of water to the residue affords a fine violet suspension which is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3), and dried for 18 hours at 60°C / 5 ^■ 10 ³ Pa. The product of following formula is obtained as a fine violet powder:

Molecular weight: 627 g/mol (ESI-LC-MS, negative ionisation);

Purity: 96.3% (HPLC, THF, λ _max = 256 nm + 586 nm );

Melting point: 222°C (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, 10°C/min);

NMR (DMSO-de + D ₂ O): 8.22 (m, 2H), 7.78 (m, 2H), 7.28 (d, 2H), 6.96 (s, 1 H),

6.90 (d, 2H), 5.41 (s, 1 H), 3.24 (t, 2H), 2.64 (m, 2H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 1.96 (s, 3H), 1.18 (s, 9H);

Analysis: C H N O S

66.99 6.52 6.40 15.23 5.03 calα: 66.97 5.94 6.69 15.29 5.1 1

Example 2: The same procedure is used as for example 1 , with the difference that 2-(2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-ethanol is used instead of 2-amino-ethanol in the second step. The product of following formula is obtained:

Molecular weight: 671 g/mol (ESI-LC-MS, negative ionisation);

Purity: 96.6% (HPLC, THF, λ _max = 240 nm + 586 nm );

Melting point: 227°C (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, 10°C/min);

NMR (DMSO-de + D ₂ O): 8.25 (m, 2H), 7.81 (m, 2H), 7.32 (d, 2H), 7.01 (s, 1 H), 6.91 (d, 2H), 5.43 (s, 1 H), 3.35 (m, 4H), 3.14 (t, 4H),

2.43 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.98 (s, 3H), 1.20 (s, 9H);

Analysis: C H N O S ro, 66.22 6.59 6.08 16.32 4.76 calα: 66.15 6.15 6.25 16.67 4.77

Example 3: The same procedure is used as for example 1 , with the difference that 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)-ethanol is used instead of 2-amino-ethanol in the second step. The product of following formula is obtained:

Molecular weight: 671 g/mol (ESI-LC-MS, negative ionisation);

Purity: 92.9% (HPLC, THF, λ _max = 256 nm + 586 nm );

Melting point: 173°C (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, 10°C/min);

NMR (DMSO-de + D ₂ O): 8.28 (m, 2H), 7.83 (m, 2H), 7.34 (d, 2H), 7.03 (s, 1 H),

6.97 (d, 2H), 5.50 (s, 1 H), 3.42 (m, 4H), 3.29 (m, 4H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.03 (s, 3H), 1.25 (s, 9H);

Analysis: C H N O S

[%] 65.96 6.15 5.77 16.58 4.63 calc: 66.15 6.15 6.25 16.67 4.77

Examples 4 - 192: The compounds of the following formulae are prepared in close analogy to examples 1 - 3:

Examples 193 - 204: General procedure.

A liquid formulation containing an acrylic acid/acrylate polymeric resin binder, an organic solvent, a photoinitiator, a polymerisable monomer, a dye and optionally a dispersant is homogenized by stirring and filtered through a 0.45 μm Teflon™ filter. Spin coating of this formulation is performed on glass plates at various spinning speeds in order to achieve various layer thicknesses. Soft bake at 100°C for 2 min affords the required thin transparent layer. UV exposure through a mask for 30 s followed by basic aqueous development and final post bake for 5 min at 200°C results in a structured pattern.

Formulation A:

8.89 parts Disperbyk ^® 161 (cationic polyurethane, dispersing agent)

19.41 parts acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder

67.20 parts cyclopentanone

10.53 parts Sartomer ^® 399 (dipentaerytritol pentaacrylate) 0.84 parts 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine

Formulation B:

8.41 parts Disperbyk ^® 161 (cationic polyurethane, dispersing agent)

19.27 parts acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder

67.10 parts cyclopentanone 10.90 parts Sartomer ^® 399 (dipentaerytritol pentaacrylate)

0.84 parts 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine

Formulation C:

10.85 parts C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6

1.09 parts Solsperse ^® 5000 15.89 parts Disperbyk ^® 161

56.63 parts 1 -methoxy-2-propyl-acetate (PGMEA)

15.54 parts acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder

Example 193 - 201 : No mask nor light exposure.

Example 193: 0.20 g of the compound of example 1 are dissolved in 2.01 g of formulation B and applied according to the general procedure described above on 24 x 40 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0.2575 , y = 0.1430 , Y= 15.13 .

Example 194: 0.43 g of the compound of example 1 are dissolved in 4.53 g of formulation B and applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 x 75 mm glass plates. Contrast measurements are performed on a TSUBOSAKA ELECTRIC apparatus. The following values are obtained:

Example 195: 0.20 g of the compound of example 2 are dissolved in 2.01 g of formulation B and applied according to the general procedure described above on 24 x 40 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0. 2295 , y = 0. 0942 , Y = 7.90 .

Example 196: 0.42 g of the compound of example 2 are dissolved in 4.52 g of formulation B and applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 x 75 mm glass plates. Contrast measurements are performed on a TSUBOSAKA ELECTRIC apparatus. The following values are obtained:

Example 197: 0.20 g of the compound of example 3 are dissolved in 2.01 g of formulation B and applied according to the general procedure described above on 24 x 40 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0. 2295 , y = 0. 0961 , Y = 8.19 .

Example 198: 0.44 g of the compound of example 3 are dissolved in 4.55 g of formulation B and applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 x 75 mm glass plates. Contrast measurements are performed on a TSUBOSAKA ELECTRIC apparatus. The following values are obtained:

Example 199 (mixture of C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6 and compound of example 2): 4.00 g of formulation A are mixed with 4.00 g of formulation C. To 3.20 g of this mixture are added 0.80 g of a solution containing 0.40 g of the compound of example 2 dissolved in 4.06 g of cyclopentanone. The resulting resist formulation is applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 * 75 mm glass plates at various spinning speeds. The following values are obtained:

Example 200: (mixture of C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6 and compound of example 3): 4.00 g of formulation A are mixed with 4.00 g of formulation C. To 3.20 g of this mixture are added 0.80 g of a solution containing 0.40 g of the compound of example 3 dissolved in 4.06 g of cyclopentanone. The resulting resist formulation is applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 * 75 mm glass plates at various spinning speeds. The following values are obtained:

Example 201 (comparative): (pure C. I. Pigment Blue 15:6) 1.56 g of formulation A are mixed with 1.41 g of formulation C. The resulting resist formulation is applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 * 75 mm glass plates at various spinning speeds. The following values are obtained:

Examples 202 - 204: General procedure for microlithography. Patterning is realised by irradiation through a mask enabling resolution ranging from 100 μm to 1 μm. The irradiation bandwidth of the UV lamp ranges from 300 nm to 410 nm with an energy intensity of 1.4 mW/cm ² . The developing bath is an aqueous basic developer prepared from commercial JSR 4625 in 2% concentration.

Example 202: A solution containing 0.21 g of the compound of example 1 dissolved in 1.32 g of cyclopentanone is added to a formulation containing 0.19 g Disperbyk ^® 161 , 0.44 g acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder, 0.22 g Sartomer ^® 399, 0.05 g 2,4-bis- (trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine. After filtration through a

Teflon™ filter (0.45 μm), the resulting resist formulation is spin-coated on glass at a spinning speed of 1000 rpm and soft-baked for 2 minutes at 100°C. Irradiation through a mask for 30 seconds, followed by aqueous base development for 5 minutes results in a very well resolved pattern, which is further hot-baked at 200°C for 5 minutes.

Example 203: A solution containing 0.18 g of the compound of example 2 dissolved in 1.25 g of cyclopentanone is added to a formulation containing 0.19 g Disperbyk ^® 161 , 0.41 g acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder, 0.24 g Sartomer ^® 399, 0.03 g 2,4-bis- (trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine. After filtration through a Teflon™ filter (0.45 μm), the resulting resist formulation is spin-coated on glass at a spinning speed of 1000 rpm and soft-baked for 2 minutes at 100°C. Irradiation through a mask for 30 secondes, followed by aqueous base development for

3 minutes results in a very well resolved pattern, which is further hot-baked at 200°C for 5 minutes.

Example 204: A solution containing 0.20 g of the compound of example 3 dissolved in 1.31 g of cyclopentanone is added to a formulation containing 0.20 g Disperbyk ^® 161 , 0.49 g acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder, 0.21 g Sartomer ^® 399, 0.02 g 2,4-bis- (trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine. After filtration through a Teflon™ filter (0.45 μm), the resulting resist formulation is spin-coated on glass at a spinning speed of 1000 rpm and soft-baked for 2 minutes at 100°C. Irradiation through a mask for 30 secondes, followed by aqueous base development for

4 minutes results in a very well resolved pattern, which is further hot-baked at 200°C for 5 minutes.

Example 205: The same general procedure as described above in examples 193 - 198 is followed, with the difference that 1 -methoxy-2-propyl-acetate (PGMEA) is used in place of cyclopentanone as organic solvent.

Formulation D:

4.36 parts Disperbyk ^® 161 (cationic polyurethane, dispersing agent)

12.08 parts acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder

33.32 parts 1 -methoxy-2-propyl-acetate (PGMEA)

6.5 parts Sartomer ^® 399 (dipentaerytritol pentaacrylate)

0.65 parts 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine

0.1 O g of the compound of example 3 are dissolved in 1.00 g of formulation D and applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 * 75 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0.2540 , y = 0.1398 , Y = 14.29 .

Examples 206 - 207: The same general procedure as described above in examples 109- 1 14 is followed, but without using Disperbyk ^® 161.

Formulation E:

19.81 parts acrylic acid/acrylate resin binder

76.75 parts cyclopentanone

10.58 parts Sartomer ^® 399 (dipentaerytritol pentaacrylate) 0.85 parts 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine

Example 206: 0.20 g of the compound of example 2 are dissolved in 2.00 g of formulation E and applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 x 75 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0.2359 , y = 0.1 1 16 , Y = 10.44 .

Example 207: 0.20 g of the compound of example 3 are dissolved in 2.00 g of formulation E and applied according to the general procedure described above on 52 x 75 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0.2318 , y = 0.1057 , Y = 9.65 .

Example 208: 250 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are added dropwise at 23°C to 50 g of 1 -amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenylami no)-anthraquinone. After completion of the addition (about 45 min), the reaction mixture is heated at 65°C. The reaction mixture is then carefully poured into 21 of ice-water. After

stirring for 30 minutes, the resulting violet suspension of 3-[4-amino-3-(4-tert-butyl- phenoxy)-9, 10-dioxo-9, 10-dihydro-anthracen-1 -ylamino]-2,4,6-trimethyl- benzenesulfonyl chloride is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3) and the presscake thereby obtained is washed with water and further used as a wet press-cake in the next step.

Approximately one half of this presscake is suspended in 500 ml of tetrahydrofuran. After dropwise addition of 15.12 g 2-amino-ethanol at 10°C over 15 minutes, the reaction mixture is allowed to cool to 23°C and stirred for 3 hours. Evaporation of the tetrahydrofuran with a rotary evaporator, followed by addition of 1 I of water to the residue affords a violet suspension which is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3). The solid thus obtained is dissolved in acetone and the violet solution filtered on silica gel. Evaporation of the eluted filtrate on a rotary evaporator affords 27.42 g of a violet powder comprising two main components (determined by HPLC): 42.4% of λ _m ax 300 nm + 591 nm, 54.5% of λ _max 300 nm + 589 nm (CH ₃ CN). The molecular weights as determined by ESI-LC-MS (negative ionisation, 0.1 % CH ₃ OH-THF) are 694 g/mol and 750 g/mol, respectively:

Example 209: The second half of the presscake according to the first part of example 208 is suspended in 500 ml of tetrahydrofuran. After dropwise addition of 26 g diethanolamine at 15°C over 15 minutes, the reaction mixture is allowed to cool to 23°C and stirred for 3 hours. Evaporation of the tetrahydrofuran with a rotary evaporator, followed by addition of 1 I of water to the residue affords a violet suspension which is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3). The solid thus obtained is

dissolved in acetone and the violet solution filtered on silica gel. Evaporation of the eluted filtrate on a rotary evaporatory affords 27.65 g of a violet powder comprising two main components (determined by HPLC): 41.8% of λ _ma χ 300 nm + 592 nm, 52.2% of λmax 300 nm + 589 nm (CH ₃ CN). The molecular weights as determined by ESI-LC-MS (negative ionisation, 0.1 % CH ₃ OH-THF) are 782 g/mol and 838 g/mol, respectively:

Example 210: Following the same procedure as in examples 193 - 204, 0.02 g of the compound according to example 208 are dissolved in 0.20 g of formulation B and applied on 24 * 40 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0.1958, y = 0.0830 , Y = 6.20 .

Example 21 1 : Following the same procedure as in examples 193 - 204, 0.02 g of the compound according to example 209 are dissolved in 0.20 g of formulation B and applied on 24 * 40 mm glass plates. At spinning speed of 1000 rpm, the following colour point values are obtained: x = 0.1934, y = 0.0767 , Y = 5.77 .

Example 212: 150 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are placed in a flask and cooled down to 0°C. Portionwise addition of 20 g 1 -amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6- trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone is performed slowly over 1 1 minutes, leading to a reaction mixture temperature of 5°C at the end of the addition. After stirring for 30 minutes, the reaction mixture is slowly poured into 2 I of ice-water. After again stirring for 30 minutes, the resulting violet suspension is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3) and the presscake thus obtained is further used as a wet press-cake in

the next step.

The presscake is suspended in tetrahydrofuran and cooled down to 5°C. Dropwise addition of 12.49 g of 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)-ethanol is performed at 5°C over a period of 15 minutes and the reaction mixture is then allowed to stir and cool to 23°C over 3 hours. Evaporation of the tetrahydrofuran with a rotary evaporator affords an oily residue which is triturated with water. After decantation of the water, the residue is dried at 60 ⁰ C / 5- 10 ³ Pa for 3 hours.

After dissolution in dichloromethane of the dried product, elution on silica gel with dichloromethane eliminates the first spot; further elution with acetone affords a second fraction which is evaporated on a rotary evaporator and dried for 3 hours at 60°C/5-10 ³ Pa. The powder thus obtained is further purified by filtration on silica gel, eluting with dichloromethane /acetone (4:1 ). Solvent evaporation provides 9.99 g of a violet powder.

Example 213: 800 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are placed in a flask and cooled down to 0°C. Portionwise addition of 105 g 1 -amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6- trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone is performed slowly and the reaction mixture temperature is kept at 5°C at the end of the addition. After stirring for 55 minutes, the reaction mixture is slowly poured into 2 I of ice-water-sodium chloride under stirring and the temperature of the reaction mixture is allowed to reach 15°C. The addition is finished after 50 minutes and the resulting violet suspension is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3); the presscake thus obtained is washed with cold water and further used as a wet press-cake in the next step.

The presscake is suspended in 1.5 I of tetrahydrofuran and cooled down to 10°C. Dropwise addition of 66.20 g of 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)-ethanol is performed under nitrogen at 10°C over a period of 15 minutes and the reaction mixture is then allowed to stir and cool to 23°C over 4 hours. After evaporation of the tetrahydrofuran with a rotary evaporator and addition of 2 I of water, the suspension is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3) and the solid is dried at 60°C / 5- 10 ³ Pa for 3 hours. After dissolution of the residue in 3 I of dichloromethane /acetone (4 : 1 ), 1 kg of

silica gel is slowly added and the mixture is stirred and homogenised. Filtration on a glass filter (porosity 4) followed by evaporation of the filtrate with a rotary evaporator affords a residue which is dissolved in 2 I of dichloromethane/ acetone (4 : 1 ) and again evaporated to dryness. Drying at 60°C / 5- 10 ³ Pa for 7 hours affords 60.75 g of violet powder.

Example 214: 40 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are placed in a flask and cooled down to -5°C. Portionwise addition of 5 g 1-amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6- trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone is performed slowly. The reaction mixture is kept at 0°C and stirred for 40 minutes, then slowly poured into 100 ml of ice-water- sodium chloride under stirring over 10 minutes. The resulting violet suspension is filtered on a glass filter (porosity 3); the presscake thus obtained is washed with cold water and further used as a wet press-cake in the next step.

2 g of 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)-ethanol in 50 ml of ice/water are placed into a reaction flask, to which is added approximately one half of the wet press-cake prepared above. The reaction mixture is heated at 50°C for 3 hours, after which heating is stopped and the reaction mixture is allowed to cool to 23°C. Filtration on a glass filter (porosity 3) followed by washing with water and subsequent drying at 60°C / 5- 10 ³ Pa for 3 hours affords 3.2 g of a violet powder.

Example 215: 800 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are placed in a flask and cooled down to -5°C. Portionwise addition of 105 g 1-amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6- trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone is performed slowly and the reaction mixture temperature is not allowed to rise above 1 °C and it is -2°C at the end of the addition. After stirring for 30 minutes at -2°C and further cooling down to -18°C for approximately 30 minutes, the reaction mixture is allowed to reach 0°C and thin layer chromatography indicates total consumption of the reagent 1-amino-2-(4-tert- butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone . The reaction mixture is then carefully poured into 800 ml of ice-water-sodium chloride under stirring and the temperature of the reaction mixture is allowed to reach 15°C. The addition is finished after 30 minutes and the resulting violet suspension is filtered. The presscake thus obtained is washed with 5 I of water and further used as a wet

press-cake in the next step.

A reaction flask containing 88.3 g of 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)-ethanol dissolved in 400 ml of ice/water is cooled down to 5°C. The previously prepared press-cake is added portionwise to the reaction flask and another portion of 200 ml of 2-(2-amino- ethoxy)-ethanol is further added. The reaction mixture is then heated under stirring to 55°C for 30 minutes and then allowed to cool to 23°C. The raw material is isolated by filtration and dried at 60°C/5-10 ³ Pa for 3 hours. Dissolution in acetone /hexan (7 : 3) followed by filtration on silica gel (6 I of same eluent) affords 89.14 g of a violet powder after evaporation of the solvents on a rotary evaporator. Example 216: 560 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are placed in a flask and cooled down to -5°C. Portionwise addition of 70 g 1-amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6- trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone is performed slowly; the reaction mixture temperature is not allowed to go above 5°C and is 0°C at the end of the addition. After stirring for 40 minutes at 0°C, the reaction mixture is carefully poured into 2 I of ice-water-sodium chloride under stirring and the temperature of the reaction mixture is kept at 0°C. The addition is finished after 60 minutes and the resulting violet suspension is filtered. The presscake thus obtained is washed 3 times with each 3 I of water after which the pH of the filtrate is still 1.7. The presscake is further used as a wet press-cake in the next step.

To a suspension of the above prepared presscake into 400 ml ice/water are slowly added 58.4 g of 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)-ethanol. The reaction mixture is heated at 47°C for 6.5 hours and then hot filtered. The presscake is further dispersed by stirring in 500 ml of water and heated to 80°C. Filtration, repeated washings with hot water until the filtrate is colourless and final filtration afford a product which is dissolved in acetone, filtered and evaporated to dryness on a rotary evaporator. Drying of the residue at 60°C / 5- 10 ³ Pa for 8 hours affords 43 g of a violet powder.

Example 217: 115 ml of chlorosulfonic acid are placed in a flask and cooled down to -5°C. Portionwise addition of 15 g 1-amino-2-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)-4-(2,4,6- trimethyl-phenylamino)-anthraquinone is performed slowly over 8 minutes and the

reaction mixture temperature is not allowed to go above 0°C. After stirring for 20 minutes at 1 °C, the reaction mixture is carefully poured into 1 I of ice-water-sodium chloride under stirring. The addition is finished after 25 minutes and the resulting violet suspension is filtered. The presscake thus obtained is washed with 500 ml of cold water, twice suspended in 700 ml ice/water and each time filtered. To the wet presscake suspended into 200 ml ice/water at 10°C, 12.48 g of 2-(2-amino-ethoxy)- ethanol are slowly added over 5 minutes. The reaction mixture is heated up to 55°C for 18 hours and then filtered hot on a glass filter (porosity 4). The presscake is further repeatedly washed with warm water (totally 1200 ml) and then dried at 60°C/5-10 ³ Pa for 12 hours to afford 16.23 g of a violet powder.

The below differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), HPLC, elemental analysis (CHNOS) and mass spectroscopy (MS) data allow a comparison:

* main component as determined by HPLC

The comparison of DSC data of examples 3 and 212 to 217 is surprising, because the pattern of melting is not consistent. Examples 3 and 213 exhibit one single endothermic peak around 174°C, whereas examples 212, 214 and 217 exhibit a

single peak around 85°C. Additionally, examples 215 and 216 exhibit two distinct endothermic peaks around 80°C and 130°C, indicating the presence of a liquid crystalline phase (see Liquid Crystals 27/8, 1075-1085 [2000]).

All samples comprise the following main component of molecular weight 671 g/mol in a purity of at least 83% according to HPLC:

The further components of m/e 584, 614/615, 695, 751 and 782 g/mol as detected by mass spectroscopy can be assigned to following structures M ⁺ or MH ⁺ ( R ₆₆ = [(CH ₂ ) ₂ O] ₂ H ):

[781], respectively.