Abstract: Anhydride compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is an optionally substituted amino-phenyl or optionally substituted 3-indolyl radical, Hal represents halogen, Z represents hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an optionally substituted phenyl radical and n is 1 to 4; these anhydrides are particularly useful as starting materials for the manufacture of halogenated 3-aryl-3-indolyl-phthalides or fluoran derivatives.

Abstract: Phthalide compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A and B, independently of the other, represent a monovalent radical of the formula ##STR2## wherein X.sub.1 represents an amino group of the formula ##STR3## X.sub.2 represents halogen or an amino group of the formula ##STR4## W is hydrogen or halogen, R.sub.1 and T.sub.1 each represents alkyl of at most 12 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, lower alkoxy or lower alkylcarbonyloxy, cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl or phenyl or benzyl which are substituted by halogen, nitro, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, R.sub.2 and T.sub.2 each represents hydrogen, alkyl of at most 12 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, hydroxyl cyano, lower alkoxy or lower alkyl-carbonyloxy; cycloalkyl, benzyl or benzyl which is substituted by halogen, nitro, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, and T.sub.2 may also represent acyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or each pair of substituents R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 or T.sub.1 and T.sub.

Abstract: Anhydride compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is an optionally substituted amino-phenyl or optionally substituted 3-indolyl radical, Hal represents halogen, Z represents hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an optionally substituted phenyl radical and n is 1 to 4; these anhydrides are particularly useful as starting materials for the manufacture of halogenated 3-aryl-3-indolyl-phthalides or fluoran derivatives.