The present invention provides a family of dark quenchers, termed Black Hole Quenchers (BHQs), that are efficient quenchers of excited state energy but which are themselves substantially non-fluorescent. Also provided are methods of using the BHQs, probes incorporating the BHQs and methods of using the probes.

A compound of formula (1) or (11):
X-A.sup.1-(N?N-A.sup.2).sub.n-N?N-A.sup.3-Y(1)
X-A.sup.41-(N?N-A.sup.42).sub.n-N?N-A.sup.43-Y(11), -A.sup.1- and -A.sup.2- being independently a divalent group of an S-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring, with no adjacent non-carbons in the ring, a divalent group of a benzisothiazole ring, or a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, -A.sup.3- being a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, X is a branched alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylsulfanyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, Y is a monovalent organic group, n is 1, 2, or 3, when n is 2 or 3, a plurality of -A.sup.2-s and/or -A.sup.42-s optionally differing, wherein -A.sup.1- and -A.sup.2- are not both a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, at least one -A.sup.42- is a divalent group of an S-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring, -A.sup.41- and -A.sup.43- are independently a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring.

A compound of formula (1) or (11):
X-A.sup.1-(N?N-A.sup.2).sub.n-N?N-A.sup.3-Y(1)
X-A.sup.41-(N?N-A.sup.42).sub.n-N?N-A.sup.43-Y(11), -A.sup.1- and -A.sup.2- being independently a divalent group of an S-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring, with no adjacent non-carbons in the ring, a divalent group of a benzisothiazole ring, or a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, -A.sup.3- being a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, X is a branched alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylsulfanyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, Y is a monovalent organic group, n is 1, 2, or 3, when n is 2 or 3, a plurality of -A.sup.2-s and/or -A.sup.42-s optionally differing, wherein -A.sup.1- and -A.sup.2- are not both a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, at least one -A.sup.42- is a divalent group of an S-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring, -A.sup.41- and -A.sup.43- are independently a divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring.

An object of the invention is to provide a coloring composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film maintaining an excellent dichroic ratio and having good pressing resistance can be formed, and a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device using the coloring composition. A coloring composition according to the invention contains: a polymer compound having a repeating unit including a crosslinkable group and a mesogenic group in the same side chain, or a polymer compound separately having a repeating unit including a crosslinkable group in a side chain and a repeating unit including a mesogenic group in a side chain; and a dichroic dye compound.

An object of the invention is to provide a coloring composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film maintaining an excellent dichroic ratio and having good pressing resistance can be formed, and a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device using the coloring composition. A coloring composition according to the invention contains: a polymer compound having a repeating unit including a crosslinkable group and a mesogenic group in the same side chain, or a polymer compound separately having a repeating unit including a crosslinkable group in a side chain and a repeating unit including a mesogenic group in a side chain; and a dichroic dye compound.

This invention relates to particles comprising a pigment core particle encapsulated by a polymer, a process for their preparation, electrophoretic fluids comprising such particles, and electrophoretic display devices comprising such fluids.

This invention relates to particles comprising a pigment core particle encapsulated by a polymer, a process for their preparation, electrophoretic fluids comprising such particles, and electrophoretic display devices comprising such fluids.

An object of the invention is to provide an anisotropic light absorption film having both a high alignment degree and high light resistance, and a laminate provided using the anisotropic light absorption film. An anisotropic light absorption film according to the embodiment of the invention is formed from a composition having a first dichroic azo dye, a second dichroic azo dye, and a compound represented by Formula (I) or a polymer thereof, the first dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 400 nm or greater and less than 550 nm, the second dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 550 nm or greater and 750 nm or less, and the film has an arrangement structure of the first dichroic azo dye or an arrangement structure of the second dichroic azo dye therein.

An object of the invention is to provide an anisotropic light absorption film having both a high alignment degree and high light resistance, and a laminate provided using the anisotropic light absorption film. An anisotropic light absorption film according to the embodiment of the invention is formed from a composition having a first dichroic azo dye, a second dichroic azo dye, and a compound represented by Formula (I) or a polymer thereof, the first dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 400 nm or greater and less than 550 nm, the second dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 550 nm or greater and 750 nm or less, and the film has an arrangement structure of the first dichroic azo dye or an arrangement structure of the second dichroic azo dye therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a dichroic dye compound which maintains an excellent degree of polarization in a case of being used in a polarizing element and has satisfactory solubility; a dichroic dye composition; a light-absorbing anisotropic film; a polarizing element; and an image display device. The dichroic dye compound of the invention is a dichroic dye compound having a structure represented by Formula (I).

##STR00001##

In Formula (I), L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each independently represent a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent or a heteroatom; E.sup.1 and E.sup.2 each independently represent O(C?O) or (C?O)O; G represents a branched monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group; n, m, p, q, and r each independently represent 0 or 1; and the sum of m, q, and r represents 2 or 3, provided that in a case in which the sum of m and q is 2, G represents a linear or branched monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group.