Abstract: A process for preparing a 3-(N,N-disubstituted amino)phenol is herein disclosed which comprises reacting resorcin with a primary amine represented by formula (2):R.sup.1 NH.sub.2 (2)wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group,terminating the reaction when the conversion of resorcin is 50 mol % or more and when the amount of an N,N'-disubstituted-m-phenylenediamine as a by-product is 2 mol % or less of the amount of used resorcin, adding an alkyl halide represented by formula (3):R.sup.2 X (3)wherein R.sup.2 is an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group; and X is a halogen atom,to the obtained reaction mixture, adding an aqueous alkaline solution to the resultant reaction mixture to dissolve unreacted resorcin in the aqueous phase, extracting the 3-(N,N-disubstituted amino)phenol with an organic solvent, and then recovering unreacted resorcin from the aqueous phase.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material which has a support and a heat-sensitive recording layer containing at least one carboxylate represented by the following formula (1) or (2) ##STR1## wherein a ring X is an aromatic residue which may have a substitute; the other substituents are as defined herein. The heat-sensitive recording material exhibits excellent color image stability and can provide an optically character-readable sharp image.

Abstract: A carboxylate is herein disclosed which is represented by the formula (1) or (2) ##STR1## wherein a ring X is an aromatic residue which may have a substituent; the other substitutents are as defined herein. A heat-sensitive recording material comprising this carboxylate is excellent in the stability of the color image and can provide an optically character-readable sharp color image.