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: 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: A method for preparing a macrocyclic metal cyanine, comprising the step of providing a macrocyclic metal-free cyanine precursor and inserting a metal therein using a metal reagent, wherein said metal reagent comprises at least one organic ligand.

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, C1-12alkoxy, 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: 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: 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 dye of formula (I) or (II): 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 alky, 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 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 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 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 aryl

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: 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.