Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording material allows for obtaining excellent recording signal properties even at high-speed recording and is excellent in durability in both a single-sided single layer optical recording medium and a single-sided two-layer optical recording medium having a first recording layer and a second recording layer. The optical recording material contains a cyanine compound having a specific structure and a squarylium compound as dyes for optical recording layers.

Abstract: A cyanine compound is represented by formula (I): A1: benzene or naphthalene ring. A3: 5- or 6-membered ring. R1, R2: hydrogen atom and the like. R7: an alkyl group and the like. R12: a substituent by formula (II) or (II?). R20: a hydrogen atom and the like. Anq-: a q-valent anion. q: 1 or 2; p: a coefficient for neutral charge. In formula (II): bond between L and T is a double, conjugated double, or triple bond. L: carbon atom. T: carbon, oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen atom. x, y, z: 0 or 1. s: 0-4. R13: hydrogen atom and the like. R14, R15, and R16: hydrogen atom and the like. In formula (II?), the bond between L? and T? is a double or conjugated double bond. L?: carbon atom. T?: carbon, oxygen, nitrogen atom. s?: 0-4. Ring containing L? and T?: 5-membered ring, may contain a heteroatom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a trimethine cyanine represented by the formula (1): wherein each of the symbols are defined in the specification. The present invention also relates to a use of the above dimeric trimethine cyanine compound as a dye, which is used in an optic element, particularly a high density recordable optical media.

Abstract: A cyanine compound is represented by: wherein, R11 and R12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a group represented by the following general formula (II), (II?), or (III); R13 and R14 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a substituent represented by the following general formula (III); R11 and R12 may be connected together to form a ring structure; R19 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; R13 and R14 may be connected together to form a heterocycle; N—R13 may be connected together with a methylene group in a polymethine chain to form a heterocycle; Z00 is an organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; m is 0 or 1; s is 2 to 8; Anq? represents an anion having a valence of q; q is 1 or 2; and p represents a coefficient for maintaining charge neutrality.

Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium including, in sequence: a first substrate; a first information recording layer; an intermediate layer; a second information recording layer; and a second substrate having wobble convex portions on its surface, wherein information is recorded on or reproduced from the first information recording layer and second information recording layer by irradiation with a laser beam from a first information recording layer side, wherein the second information recording layer includes, over the second substrate, a light reflective layer, a dye recording layer, and an inorganic protective layer, wherein the inorganic protective layer has a thickness of 3 nm to 40 nm, and wherein the dye recording layer includes a cyanine compound expressed by General Formula (I) and a squarylium compound expressed by General Formula (II):