PYRAN-CONTAINING PHTHALIDES

Pyran-containing phthalides of the formula (1) in which R is hydrogen, alkyl which has not more than 12 carbon atoms and is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxyl or lower alkoxy, or is cycloalkyl, phenalkyl or phenyl each of which is unsubstituted or substituted, or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic radical, R' is hydrogen, or R together with R' is C2-C3alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by methyl, X is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radical and the ring A is a benzene or naphthalene ring which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted or polysubstituted by halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or lower alkoxycarbonyl, and the ring B is an aromatic or heteroaromatic radical which has 6 ring atoms and which can contain an aromatic fused ring, it being possible for both the ring B and the fused ring to be substituted. These phthalides are particularly suitable for use as color-formers in pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive recording materials and produce light-fast, orange, red, violet, green-blue, blue or violet-blue color shades.