A fluorinated phthalocyanine compound represented by Formula (1) (in Formula (1), M represents a metal atom or an oxide of a metal atom, and R.sup.101 to R.sup.108 each independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, provided that at least one of R.sup.101 to R.sup.108 is a group represented by Formula (2); in Formula (2), R.sup.201 to R.sup.205 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, provided that at least one of R.sup.201 to R.sup.205 is a group represented by any one selected from the group consisting of Formula (3), Formula (4), Formula (5), Formula (6), and Formula (7)); and applications thereof.

A fluorinated phthalocyanine compound represented by Formula (1) (in Formula (1), M represents a metal atom or an oxide of a metal atom, and R.sup.101 to R.sup.108 each independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, provided that at least one of R.sup.101 to R.sup.108 is a group represented by Formula (2); in Formula (2), R.sup.201 to R.sup.205 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, provided that at least one of R.sup.201 to R.sup.205 is a group represented by any one selected from the group consisting of Formula (3), Formula (4), Formula (5), Formula (6), and Formula (7)); and applications thereof.

The present invention relates to specific Ga-naphthalocyanine chromophores with short chain alkoxy axial substituents, their use as almost colourless IR absorbers, for optical filter applications; especially for plasma display panels, or for laser welding of plastics. The compounds may be used in compositions for inks, paints and plastics, especially in a wide variety of printing systems and are particularly well-suited for security applications.

Provided is a phthalocyanine compound which has a green hue without having a halogen atom, and exhibits high luminance and an excellent coloring force at the time of being used for preparing a green pixel unit of a color filter. The phthalocyanine compound of the present invention has green hues without having a halogen atom, and exhibits high luminance and an excellent coloring force at the time of being used for preparing the green pixel unit of the color filter. In addition, the phthalocyanine compound can be used not only for the color filter, but also as a colorant for a wide range of applications as a general colorant such as printing ink, paint, colored plastic, toner, and ink for ink jet.

Provided are methods for preparing a phthalocyanine pigment in high yield that eliminate the need to add a heavy metal catalyst. The resulting pigmentary phthalocyanine products thus contain no or only trace amounts of heavy metal impurities. The provided methods produce phthalocyanine pigments that can be used in any application that utilizes phthalocyanine pigments, such as in dispersions, printing inks, paints, plastics and coatings.

Provided are methods for preparing a phthalocyanine pigment in high yield that eliminate the need to add a heavy metal catalyst. The resulting pigmentary phthalocyanine products thus contain no or only trace amounts of heavy metal impurities. The provided methods produce phthalocyanine pigments that can be used in any application that utilizes phthalocyanine pigments, such as in dispersions, printing inks, paints, plastics and coatings.

A colorant for fluorescent labeling which has an absorbance retention calculated with equation (I) of 0.5 or greater. When the colorant for fluorescent labeling is dissolved in an organic solvent and the resultant colorant solution is added to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), then the resultant colorant dispersion (colorant dispersion I) contains dispersed colorant droplets formed therein which have an average droplet diameter of 500 nm or less. Equation (I): Absorbance retention=A.sub.1/A.sub.0 [In equation (I), A.sub.0 indicates the absorbance, at a maximum-absorption wavelength, of the colorant solution (colorant solution I) obtained by dissolving the colorant for fluorescent labeling in the organic solvent and A.sub.1 indicates the absorbance, at a maximum-absorption wavelength, of the colorant dispersion (colorant dispersion II) obtained by adding the solution of the colorant for fluorescent labeling to PBS, the colorant solution I and the colorant dispersion II being equal in colorant concentration.]

An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a substrate and a photosensitive layer containing a phthalocyanine pigment. The crystalline particles of the phthalocyanine pigment have a crystallite correlation length r and a particle size R of 400 nm or less, and a parameter k defined by r/R is in the range of 0.17 to 0.42.

An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a substrate and a photosensitive layer containing a phthalocyanine pigment. The crystalline particles of the phthalocyanine pigment have a crystallite correlation length r and a particle size R of 400 nm or less, and a parameter k defined by r/R is in the range of 0.17 to 0.42.

A phthalocyanine-based complex compound is represented by general formula (1) shown below,

##STR00001##

where M in general formula (1) is any of Cu, Fe, Ti, V, Ni, Pd, Pt, Pb, Si, Bi, Cd, La, Tb, Ce, Be, Mg, Co, Ru, Mn, Cr, Mo, Sn, and Zn, and may be present or absent.