This invention provides azamethine compounds represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein X represents ##STR2## Y represents C.dbd.O, C.dbd.C(CN).sub.2 or SO.sub.2 ; R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 represent independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, an alkoxyl group which may be substituted, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group which may be substituted, --A--R or ##STR3## R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 represent independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, an aryl group which may be substituted or a cyclohexyl group; R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 may be combined to form a ring or may form a ring with a hetero atom; R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 represent independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, an alkoxyl group which may be substituted, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group,a cyano group, --A--R or ##STR4## wherein --A represents ##STR5## or ##STR6## represents ##STR7## and R and R' represent independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, an aryl group which may be substituted, a heterocyclic group or a cyclohexyl group; R.sub.9 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, or an aryl or heteroaryl group which may be substituted; and R.sub.10 to R.sub.12 represent independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group), a process for producing such compounds, and a medium for recording optical information using these compounds.