coloring phthalide compounds having general formula ## str1 ## r 1 represents hydrogen , an alkyl group , or halogen , m is an integer of 1 to 4 , when m is 1 , r 2 represents hydrogen , an amino group , an alkylamino group , a dialkylamino group , a cyclic amino group , an alkyl group , or halogen , when m is 2 to 4 , r 2 represents halogen , r 3 and r 4 each represent a straight chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms , a cyclic alkyl group , or a benzyl group , and r 5 represents hydrogen , an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group ; and a thermosensitive recording material including a thermosensitive recording layer comprising any of the above coloring phthalides and a color developer capable of inducing color formation in the phthalide compound are disclosed .