Terrylene and quaterrylene derivatives

1. A rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof,

wherein

X are joined to one another with formation of a six-membered ring to give a radical of the formula (b)

Y are joined to one another with formation of a six-membered ring to give a radical of the formula (a)

R is phenoxy, phenylthio, pyridyloxy, pyrimidyloxy, pyridylthio or pyrimidyl-thio, each of which may optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, C 1 -C 12 -alkoxy and/or aryl;

R′ is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 30 -alkyl whose carbon chain may, optionally, be interrupted by one or more —O— and/or —CO— moieties and which may, optionally, be mono- or polysubstituted by: C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, cyano and/or aryl which may, optionally, be mono-or polysubstituted by C 1 -C 18 -alkyl or C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy; or phenyl, or naphthyl, or pyridyl, or pyrimidyl, each of which may be, optionally, mono or polysubstituted by: C 1 -C 18 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, halogen, cyano, nitro, —CONR 2 R 3 , —SO 2 NR 2 R 3 , or phenyl or naphthylazo, each of which may be, optionally, mono- or polysubstituted by C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy and/or cyano; or C 5 -C 8 -cycloalkyl which, optionally, may be mono- or polysubstituted by C 1 -C 6 -alkyl;

R 2 , R 3 are each independently hydrogen; or C 1 -C 18 -alkyl which, optionally may be mono- or polysubstituted by C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, hydroxyl, halogen and/or cyano; or aryl or heteroaryl each of which may be, optionally, mono- or polysubstituted by C 1 -C 6 -alkyl and/or the above radicals specified as substituents for alkyl;

m is 1 or 2;

n is 4 when m=1;

4 or 6 when m=2.

2. A process for preparing the rylenetetracarboxylic monoimide monoanhydride of claim 1 , or a salt thereof, and having the general formula Ia

the process comprising

a) subjecting a rylenetetracarboximide of the general formula II

 to a hydrolysis under alkaline conditions in the presence of a polar organic solvent, and removing the rylenetetracarboxylic monoimide monoanhydride Ia from a rylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride Ib which is likewise formed

 to form the rylenetetracarboxylic monoimide monoanhydride, or the salt thereof

 or

b) hydrolyzing the rylenetetracarboximide II by use of mild reaction conditions directly, substantially singly, to form the compound of formula Ia.

3. A material colored by the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

4. The material according to claim 3 , wherein said material is a coating, a printing ink, a plastic, or a combination thereof.

5. A dispersing assistant or pigment additive comprising the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

6. An aqueous polymer dispersion that absorbs in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the aqueous polymer dispersion that absorbs in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum comprises the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

7. A marking or an inscription that absorbs infrared light and is invisible to the human eye, wherein the marking or the inscription that absorbs infrared light and is invisible to the human eye comprises the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

8. A heat management infrared absorber, wherein the heat management infrared absorber comprises the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

9. An IR laser beam-absorbing material comprising the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

10. A semiconductor comprising the the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

11. An emitter selected from an electrocemitter and a chemiluminescene emitter, wherein the emitter comprises the rylene of formula I, of a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

12. A photovoltaic active component, wherein the photovoltaic active component comprises the rylene of formula I, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

13. The process of claim 2 , wherein method a) is employed.