5.2.1. Color-Formation Reactions
Colorless triarylmethane leuco materials 8 can be converted to carbon — ium ion (9)-colored materials, either by hydride abstraction or by chemical or photooxidation. In addition, some leuco compounds such as 11 can be converted to colored materials by treatment with an acid. The latter case is similar to the chemistry observed for fluoran (see Chapter 6) or phthalide (see Chapter 4) leuco compounds (Scheme 1).