Abstract: A naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I) is provided: wherein M is a metal group or is absent; R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-12 alkoxy; X is selected from O, S or —NH—; Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, Ar4, Ar5, Ar6, Ar7 and Ar8 are selected from phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, furanyl, pyrollyl, thiophenyl, each of Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, Ar4, Ar5, Ar6, Ar7 and Ar8 being optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 groups, the or each group being independently selected from C1-12 alkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C1-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 arylalkoxy, —(OCH2CH2)dORd, cyano, halogen, amino, hydroxyl, thiol, —SRv, —NRuRv, nitro, phenyl, phenoxy, —CO2Rv, —C(O)Rv, —OCORv, —SO2Rv, —OSO2Rv, —NHC(O)Rv, —CONRuRv, —CONRuRv, sulfonic acid, sulfonic acid salt and sulfonamide; d is an integer from 2 to 5000; Rd is H, C1-8 alkyl or C(O)C1-8 alkyl; and Ru and Rv are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-12 alkyl, phenyl or phenyl-C1-8 alkyl.

Abstract: A method of minimizing absorption of visible light in an ink composition. The ink composition includes an IR-absorbing metal-dithiolene dye. The method includes preselecting the dye such that it includes a moiety for reducing intermolecular interactions between adjacent dye molecules. The method is suitable for use in connection with page-based interactive systems employing invisible inks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of minimizing absorption of visible light in an ink composition comprising an IR-absorbing macrocyclic cyanine dye, comprising preselecting said dye such that it includes at least one moiety for reducing intermolecular interactions between adjacent dye molecules. The method is especially suitable for use in connection with netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing metal-cyanine dye, in which the metal has at least one axial ligand bound thereto, and wherein the axial ligand comprises a hydrophilic or hydrophilizable moiety. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of minimizing absorption of visible light in an ink composition comprising an IR-absorbing metal cyanine dye, said method comprising preselecting said dye such that said metal has at least one axial ligand bound thereto, wherein said axial ligand comprises a moiety suitable for reducing intermolecular interactions between adjacent dye molecules. The method is especially suitable for use in connection with netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing macrocyclic cyanine dye, wherein said dye comprises at least one moiety for reducing intermolecular interactions, thereby minimizing absorption of visible light. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: A method of enabling entry of data into a computer system via a printed form is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing the printed form, the form containing human-readable information and machine-readable coded data, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the form and of a plurality of locations on the form; (ii) operatively positioning a sensing device relative to the form; (iii) sensing at least some of the coded data; (iv) generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data being indicative of the identity of the form and the position of the sensing device relative to the form; and (v) sending the indicating data to a computer system, thereby enabling the computer system to identify the data for entry. The coded data comprises an ink composition containing an IR-absorbing dye and a singlet oxygen quencher.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing metal-cyanine dye, said metal having at least one axial ligand bound thereto, wherein said axial ligand comprises a moiety suitable for reducing intermolecular interactions between adjacent dye molecules, thereby minimizing absorption of visible light. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: An IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye suitable for formulation in a solvent-based or oil-based ink vehicle is disclosed. The phthalocyanine comprises one or more sulfonate groups and a counterion of at least one sulfonate group is a phosphonium cation. Phosphonium salts of sulfonated gallium naphthalocyanines exemplify such dyes.

Abstract: There is provided an aqueous formulation comprising an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (II): or a salt form thereof, wherein: M is Ga(A1); A1 is an axial ligand selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, —OC(O)R4 or —O(CH2CH2O)eRe wherein e is an integer from 2 to 10 and Re is H, C1-8 alkyl or C(O)C1-8 alkyl; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C1-12 alkoxy; R3 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); R4 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl or C5-12 arylalkyl; and Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy; The formulation has a pH in the range of 3.5 to 7 and is particularly suitable for use as an IR-absorbing inkjet ink, providing compatibility with known CMYK inks together with an optimally red-shifted ?max.

Abstract: There is provided an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein M is Ga(A1); A1 is an axial ligand selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, —OC(O)R4 or —O(CH2CH2O)eRe wherein e is an integer from 2 to 10 and Re is H, C1-8 alkyl or C(O)C1-8 alkyl; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C1-12 alkoxy; R3 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); R4 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl or C5-12 arylalkyl; Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy; and each B is independently selected from a base, wherein BH+ has a pKa of between 4 and 9. The dye is particularly suitable for use in IR-absorbing inkjet inks, providing compatibility with known CMYK inks together with an optimally red-shifted ?max.

Abstract: This application relates to a stabilized ink composition comprising an IR-absorbing metal-dithiolene dye and a singlet oxygen quencher. Ink compositions of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of minimizing absorption of visible light in an IR-absorbing dye comprising reducing intermolecular interactions between adjacent dye molecules. The method is particularly suitable for use in connection with netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing dye suitable for formulating a water-based inkjet ink, said dye being of formula (I): wherein: M is selected from Ni, Pd or Pt; R10 and R11 are independently selected from C1-30 hydrocarbyl, or R10 and R11 together are joined to form a C2-30 hydrocarbylene group; R12 and R13 are independently selected from C1-30 hydrocarbyl, or R12 and R13 together are joined to form a C2-30 hydrocarbylene group; wherein at least one of R10, R11, R12 or R13 comprises a hydrophilic group. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in NETPAGE and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing dye of formula (I) or (II) wherein R10, R13, R20, R23, R30, R33, R40 and R43 are independently selected from a C1-12 alkyl group bearing a hydrophilic or hydrophilizable group; R11, R12, R21, R22, R31, R32, R41 and R42 are independently selected from H or a C1-30 hydrocarbyl group, or each of R11/R12, R21/R22, R31/R32, and R41/R42 are together joined to form a C3-30 hydrocarbylene group; M is selected from Si(A1)(A2), Ge(A1)(A2), Ga(A1), Mg, Al(A1), TiO, Ti(A1)(A2), ZrO, Zr(A1)(A2), VO, V(A1)(A2), Mn, Mn(A1), Fe, Fe(A1), Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Sn(A1)(A2), Pb, Pb(A1)(A2), Pd and Pt; A1 and A2 are axial ligands, which may be the same or different, and are selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, a hydrophilic ligand and/or a ligand suitable for reducing intermolecular interactions; R3 is a selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); and Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein M is selected from Ga(A1); A1 is an axial ligand selected from —OH, halogen (preferably Cl), —OR3, a hydrophilic ligand and/or a ligand suitable for reducing cofacial interactions; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C1-12 alkoxy (preferably C1-6 alkoxy); R3 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); and Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy; W is a hydrophilic group; n1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n3 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel™ systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing dye of formula (I) or (II): wherein Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 are the same or different and are independently selected from a C3-20 heteroarylene group comprising at least one N atom; M is selected from Si(A1)(A2), Ge(A1)(A2), Ga(A1), Mg, Al(A1), TiO, Ti(A1)(A2), ZrO, Zr(A1)(A2), VO, V(A1)(A2), Mn, Mn(A1), Fe, Fe(A1), Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Sn(A1)(A2), Pb, Pb(A1)(A2), Pd and Pt; A1 and A2 are axial ligands, which may be the same or different, and are selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, a hydrophilic ligand and/or a ligand suitable for reducing cofacial interactions; R3 is a selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); and Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein M is selected from Si(A1)(A2), Ge(A1)(A2), Ga(A1), Mg, Al(A1), TiO, Ti(A1)(A2), ZrO, Zr(A1)(A2), Vo, V(A1)(A2), Mn, Mn(A1), Fe, Fe(A1), Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Sn(A1)(A2), Pb, Pb(A1)(A2), Pd and Pt; A1 and A2 are axial ligands, which may be the same or different, and are selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, a hydrophilic ligand and/or a ligand suitable for reducing cofacial interactions; R1 and R2 are selected from H or C1-12alkoxy; R3 is selected from C1-12alkyl, C5-12aryl, C5-12arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); and Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12alkyl, C5-12aryl, C5-12arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12aryloxy or C5-12arylalkoxy; W is a hydrophilic group; n1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n3 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0. Dyes of this type are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel systems.

Abstract: This application relates to a stabilized ink composition comprising an IR-absorbing metal-dithiolene dye and a singlet oxygen quencher.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of minimizing absorption of visible light in an ink composition comprising an IR-absorbing metal-dithiolene dye, comprising preselecting said dye such that it includes at least one moiety for reducing intermolecular interactions between adjacent dye molecules.