Dye complexes and use thereof in imaging members and methods

1. An imaging method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an imaging member comprising an image-forming layer comprising a compound represented by the formula (I)

wherein:

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted carbonyl, acylamino, halogen, nitro, nitrilo, sulfonyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, oxygen, substituted oxygen, nitrogen, substituted nitrogen, sulfur and substituted sulfur;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of: halogen, oxygen, substituted oxygen, nitrogen, substituted nitrogen, sulfur and substituted sulfur;

R 8 , R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are each independently absent or selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted carbonyl, acylamino, halogen, nitro, nitrilo, sulfonyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, oxygen, substituted oxygen, nitrogen, substituted nitrogen, sulfur and substituted sulfur;

X 1 is selected from the group consisting of: carbonyl, methylene, substituted methylene, and sulfonyl;

X 2 is selected from the group consisting of: oxygen, nitrogen, or substituted nitrogen;

X 3 is selected from the group consisting of: oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and substituted nitrogen;

X 4 is carbon or nitrogen; and

A is a hydrogen-bond accepting group;

said compound being in the crystalline form; and

(b) converting at least a portion of said compound to an amorphous form in an imagewise pattern whereby an image is formed.

2. The imaging method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises applying an imagewise pattern of thermal energy to said imaging member whereby at least a portion of said compound is converted to an amorphous form and an image is formed.

3. The imaging method as defined in claim 2 wherein said imaging member further includes a substrate and at least a second color-forming layer, said second color-forming layer being capable of forming a color different from that formed by said first color-forming layer.

4. The imaging method as defined in claim 3 wherein said imaging member further includes a third color-forming layer, said third color-forming layer being capable of forming a color different from those formed by said first and second color-forming layers.

5. The imaging method as defined in claim 4 wherein said color-forming layers form magenta, cyan and yellow color, respectively.