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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material,
which comprises color developing an exposed silver halide color
photographic material containing an alkali hydrolyzable type DIR coupler,
rapidly processing the developed silver halide color photographic material
with a liquid having a bleaching ability, and subsequently with a liquid
having a bleach-fixing ability, to thereby form a color image.
2. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein the hydrolyzable type DIR coupler is a DIR coupler or
precursor thereof capable of releasing a development inhibitor, and which
has a half-life period at a pH 10.0 of 4 hours or less.
3. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 2, wherein the half-life period of the DIR coupler at a pH of
10.0 is 2 hours or less.
4. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein the hydrolyzable type DIR coupler is represented by
formula (I)
A--(L.sub.1).sub.a --Z--L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b ].sub.m (I)
wherein A represents a coupler residue; Z represents a fundamental portion
of a compound having a development inhibiting function which is connected
directly (when a is 0) or through a linking group L.sub.1 (when a 1) to
the coupling position of the coupler; Y is connected to Z through a
linking group L.sub.2 and represents a substituent capable of generating
the development inhibiting function of Z; L.sub.1 represents a linking
group; L.sub.2 represents a linking group including a chemical bond which
is cleaved in a developing solution; a represents 0 or 1; b represents 1
or 2, and when b represents 2, the two --L.sub.2 --Y groups may be the
same or different; and m represents 1 or 2.
5. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the coupler residue represented by A is a coupler
residue derived from a yellow color image forming coupler, a magenta color
image forming coupler, a cyan color image forming coupler, or a non-color
image forming coupler.
6. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the fundamental portion represented by Z is a divalent
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or a nitrogen-containing
heterocyclic thio group.
7. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 6, wherein the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic thio group is a
tetrazolylthio group, a benzothiazolylthio group, a benzimidazolylthio
group, a triazolylthio group, or an imidazolylthio group.
8. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the hydrolyzable type DIR coupler is represented by
one of the formulae
##STR22##
wherein A, L.sub.1, a, L.sub.2, Y, b and m each has the same meaning as
defined for formula (I); and X represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom,
an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkanamido group, an alkenamido
group, an alkoxy group, a sulfonamido group, or an aryl group.
9. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the substituent represented by Y is an alkyl group, a
cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, an aryl group,
an aralkyl group, or a heterocyclic group.
10. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the hydrolyzable type DIR coupler is represented by
one of the formulae
##STR23##
wherein R.sub.21 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl
group, an alkenyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group, an
alkoxycarbonyl group, an anilino group, an acylamino group, a ureido
group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl
group, a carbamoyl group, an aryl group, a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a
cycloalkyl group, an alkanesulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, or an
acyl group; R.sub.22 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an
alkenyl group, an aralkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group; c
represents an integer from 0 to 2; n and l each represents 1 or 2, and
when l represents 2, two R.sub.21 groups may be bonded to each other to
form a condensed ring.
11. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the moiety forming the linking group represented by
L.sub.2 is --COO--, --NHCOO--, --SO.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2
SO.sub.2 --,
##STR24##
12. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the linking group represented by L.sub.2 and the
bonding thereof to Z and Y is represented by one of the formulae
##STR25##
wherein d represents an integer from 0 to 10; W.sub.1 represents a
hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon
atoms, an alkanamido group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy
group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having
from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an alkanesulfonamido
group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group, a carbamoyl group,
a nitro group, a cyano group, an arylsulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group,
or an imido group; W.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group
having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkenyl group;
W.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an
alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group having from
1 to 6 carbon atoms; and p represents an integer of from 0 to 6.
13. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 4, wherein the hydrolyzable type DIR coupling is represented by
formula (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), or (VIII)
##STR26##
wherein A, L.sub.2, and Y each has the same meaning as defined for formula
(I); A.sub.1 represents a coupler residue as defined for A in formula (I),
excluding cyan color image forming coupler residues; A.sub.2 represents a
cyan color-image-forming coupler residue of the coupler residues as
defined for A in formula (I); X represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen
atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkanamido group, an alkenamido
group, an alkoxy group, a sulfonamido group, or an aryl group; R.sub.21
represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl
group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an
anilino group, an acylamino group, a ureido group, a cyano group, a nitro
group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, an aryl
group, a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a cycloalkyl group, an
alkanesulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group or an acyl group; R.sub.22
represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aralkyl
group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group; and when l represents 2, the
two R.sub.21 groups may be bonded to each other to form a condensed ring.
14. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein the liquid having a bleaching ability is a bleaching
liquid which contains a bleaching agent and has an ability of bleaching
developed silver.
15. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein the liquid having a bleaching ability is a bleaching
liquid capable of bleaching at least more than 1/2 of the maximum amount
of developed silver contained in the color photographic light-sensitive
material.
16. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein an overflow solution of the bleaching liquid is
introduced directly into the bleach-fixing liquid.
17. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein a bleaching agent contained in the bleaching liquid
and the bleach-fixing liquid is an aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric ion
complex salt which is a complex of ferric ion and an aminopolycarboxylic
acid or a salt thereof.
18. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 17, wherein the aminopolycarboxylic acid or salt thereof is
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate,
diammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic
acid, or cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid.
19. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein the bleaching liquid or the bleach-fixing liquid
further contains a bleach accelerator.
20. A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material as
in claim 1, wherein the silver halide color photographic material
containing at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at
least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one
red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for processing a silver halide
color photographic material, and more particularly, to a method for
processing a silver halide color photographic material, in which
desilveration is sufficiently conducted in a short period of time, and
which provides a color image having improved color reproducibility.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The fundamental steps of processing color photographic light-sensitive
materials generally include a color development step and a desilvering
step. In the color development step, exposed silver halide is reduced with
a color development agent to form silver and the oxidized color developing
agent reacts with a color former (coupler) to yield a dye image. In the
subsequent desilvering step, the silver thus formed is oxidized with a
bleaching bath, further changed into a soluble silver complex by the
function of a fixing agent, and then dissolved away.
In addition to these fundamental steps of color development processing
described above, actual development processing involves various auxiliary
steps for maintaining the photographic and physical quality of the
resulting image and for improving the preservability of the image. For
example, there are illustrated a hardening bath, a stopping bath, an image
stabilizing bath, a water washing bath, etc.
In recent years, it has been strongly desired to accelerate the processing,
that is, to shorten the processing time. With the above-described color
development processing, there is a strong need to shorten the time for the
desilvering step, which typically occupies nearly one half of the total
processing time.
In response to such a need for reducing the time for the desilvering step,
there have been known a bleach-fixing solution, which contains an
aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric ion complex salt and a thiosulfate in a
single solution, as described in German Pat. No. 866,605. However, the
bleaching power of the solution is remarkably decreased, since an
aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric ion complex salt, which per se is weak in
oxidizing power (bleaching power), and a thiosulfate, which has a reducing
power, are coexistent in a single solution. Therefore, it is very
difficult for such bleach-fixing solution to sufficiently achieve
desilveration of color photographic materials for photography of high
sensitivity and high silver content, and consequently it can not be
employed for practical use.
On the other hand, for the purpose of increasing the bleaching power, there
has been proposed a method wherein various bleach accelerators such as
mercapto compounds, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,893,858, etc. are added to the bleaching bath, the bleach-fixing bath or
a prebath thereof. However, effects of these bleach accelerators are not
necessarily sufficient when they are employed in a conventional processing
method including a bleaching bath and a fixing bath.
Further, an attempt to accelerate desilveration has been made by the method
wherein a color photographic material is processed, after color
development, with a bleaching bath and subsequently with a bleach-fixing
bath, as described in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 7352/86 and
7353/86.
However, it has been found that another problem occurs, in which
desilveration is rather deteriorated depending on the kind of DIR
(development inhibitor releasing) couplers included in color photographic
materials, when they are subjected to processing with a bleaching bath and
subsequently with a bleach-fixing bath.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a method
suitable for accelerating desilveration of a color photographic
light-sensitive material and for forming an excellent color image.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a color photographic
light-sensitive material suitable for reducing a processing time thereof.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for
forming a color image having excellent fastness upon a rapid processing.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the
following description and examples.
These objects of the present invention are accomplished by a method for
processing a silver halide color photographic material which comprises,
color developing an exposed silver halide color photographic material
containing a hydrolyzable type DIR coupler, rapidly processing the
developed silver halide color photographic material with a liquid having a
bleaching ability, and subsequently with a liquid having a bleach-fixing
ability, whereby a color image is formed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The hydrolyzable type DIR coupler which can be used in the present
invention is a coupler having at its coupling active position a group
which acts as a compound having a development inhibiting function (i.e., a
development inhibitor) or precursor thereof when released from the
coupling active position of the coupler upon a color development reaction
and which is capable of being decomposed to a compound having
substantially no effect on photographic properties after being discharged
into a color developing solution. The development inhibitor or precursor
thereof should have a certain decomposition rate coefficient. More
specifically, a half-life period of the development inhibitor or precursor
thereof at pH 10.0 is 4 hours or less, preferably 2 hours or less, and
more preferably 1 hour or less.
Measurement of a half-life period of the development inhibitor or precursor
thereof in the present invention can be easily carried out in the
following manner. That is, a development inhibitor or precursor thereof to
be measured is added to a developing solution having the composition shown
below in an amount of 1.times.10.sup.-4 mol/liter, the solution is
maintained at 38.degree. C. and the concentration of the remaining
development inhibitor or precursor thereof is determined by liquid
chromatography, whereby the half-life period of the development inhibitor
or precursor thereof is determined.
Composition of Developing Solution:
______________________________________
Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid
0.8 g
1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic Acid
3.3 g
Sodium sulfite 4.0 g
Potassium Carbonate 30.0 g
Potassium Bromide 1.4 g
Potassium Iodide 1.3 mg
Hydroxylamine Sulfate 2.4 g
4-(N--Ethyl-N--.beta.-hydroxyethylamino)-
4.5 g
2-methylaniline Sulfate
Water to make 1.0 liter
pH 10.0
______________________________________
Any hydrolyzable type DIR coupler which satisfies the half-like period
condition described above can be employed in the present invention. More
specifically, hydrolyzable type DIR couplers represented by the following
general formula (I) can be used. ps
A[(L.sub.1).sub.a --Z(L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b ].sub.m (I)
wherein A represents a coupler residue; Z represents a fundamental portion
of a compound having a development inhibiting function which is connected
directly (when a is 0) or through a linking group L.sub.1 (when a is 1)
with the coupling position of the coupler; Y is connected with Z through a
linking group L.sub.2 and represents a substituent capable of generating
the development inhibiting function of Z; L.sub.1 represents a linking
group; L.sub.2 represents a linking group including a chemical bond which
is cleaved in a developing solution; a represents 0 or 1; b represents 1
or 2, when b represents 2, the two --L.sub.2 --Y groups may be the same or
different; and m represents 1 or 2.
The compound represented by formula (I) may release .sup..theta. Z--L.sub.2
--Y).sub.b or .sup..theta. L.sub.1 --Z--L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b after the
coupling reaction with an oxidation product of a color developing agent.
The latter changes immediately into .sup..theta. Z--L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b by
releasing L.sub.1. The .sup..theta. Z--L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b diffuses in the
light-sensitive layer while exhibiting the development inhibiting function
and a part thereof discharges into the color developing solution. The
.sup..theta. Z--L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b discharged into the color developing
solution rapidly decomposes at the chemical bond included in L.sub.2 ;
that is, the connection between Z and Y is cleaved, whereby a compound
which has a small development inhibiting function and which has a
water-soluble group in Z remains in the color developing solution, and
thus the development inhibiting function substantially disappears.
Hydralyzable type DIR couplers represented by formula (I) are described in
more detail below.
Preferred examples of yellow color image forming coupler residues
represented by A include those of pivaloyl acetanilide type, benzoyl
acetanilide type, malonic diestertype, malondiamide type, dibenzoylmethane
type, benzothiazolyl acetamide type, malonic ester monoamide type,
benzothiazolyl acetate type, benzoxazolyl acetamide type, benzoxazolyl
acetate type, benzimidazolyl acetamide type and benzimidazolyl acetate
type; the coupler residues derived from hetero ring-substituted acetamides
or hetero ring-substituted acetates involved in U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,880;
the coupler residues derived from the acyl acetamides as described in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,770,446, British Pat. No. 1,459,171, West German Patent
Application (OLS) No. 2,503,099, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No.
139738/75 and Research Disclosure, No. 15737; and the hetero ring type
coupler residues as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,574, etc.
Preferred examples of magenta color image forming coupler residues
represented by A include those of 5-oxo-2-pyrazoline type,
pyrazolo[1,5-a]-benzimidazole type and cyanoacetophenone type; and coupler
residues having a pyrazolotriazole nucleus, etc.
Preferred examples of cyan color image forming coupler residues represented
by A include those having a phenol nucleus or an .alpha.-naphthol nucleus.
Further, DIR couplers which release a development inhibitor upon coupling
with an oxidation product of a developing agent and substantially does not
form a dye are employed.
Suitable examples of such a type of coupler residues represented by A
include the coupler residues as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,052,213,
4,088,491, 3,632,345, 3,958,993, and 3,961,959, etc.
The fundamental portion of a development inhibitor represented by a Z
includes a divalent nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or
nitrogen-containing thio group. Suitable examples of heterocyclic thio
groups include a tetrazolylthio group, a benzothiazolylthio group, a
benzimidazolylthio group, a triazolylthio group, and an imidazolylthio
group, etc. Suitable examples of Z are set forth below, including showing
the positions of substitution of the A--L.sub.1).sub.a group and the
--L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b group.
##STR1##
In the above described formulae, the substituent represented by X, which is
included as a portion of Z in the formula (I), represents a hydrogen atom,
a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkanamido group, an
alkenamido group, an alkoxy group, a sulfonamido group or an aryl group.
Suitable examples of the group represented by Y in formula (I) include an
alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group,
an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a heterocyclic group, etc.
Suitable examples of the linking group represented by L.sub.1 in formula
(I) are set forth below, together with A and Z--(L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b.
A--OCH.sub.2 --Z--(L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b ].sub.m
(a linking group as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,396)
A--SCH.sub.2 --Z--(L.sub.2 Y).sub.b ].sub.m
##STR2##
(a linking group as described in West German Patent Application (OLS) No.
2,626,315)
##STR3##
(the linking group as described in West German Patent Application (OLS)
No. 2,885,697; c represents an integer from 0 to 2)
##STR4##
In the above described formulae, R.sub.21 represents a hydrogen atom, a
halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aralkyl group, an
alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an anilino group, an acylamino
group, a ureido group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a sulfonamido group,
a sulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, an aryl group, a carboxy group, a
sulfo group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkanesulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl
group or an acyl group; R.sub.22 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl
group, an alkenyl group, an aralkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl
group; n and l each represents 1 or 2, and when l represents 2, the two
R.sub.21 groups may be bonded to each other to form a condensed ring.
With these DIR couplers (i.e., cases wherein "a" represents 1 in formula
(I)), a releasing group released upon the reaction with an oxidation
product of a developing agent decomposes immediately and releases a
development inhibitor [H--Z--(L.sub.2 --Y).sub.b ]. Therefore these
couplers have the same effect in accordance with the present invention as
DIR couplers which do not contain the group represented by L.sub.1 (i.e.,
cases wherein "a" represents 0 in the general formula (I)) have.
The linking group represented by L.sub.2 in the general formula (I)
includes a chemical bond which is cleaved in a developing solution.
Suitable examples of such chemical bonds include those described in the
table below. These chemical bonds are cleaved with a nucleophilic reagent
such as a hydroxy ion or a hydroxylamine, etc., which is a component of
the color developing solution. Thereby the desired effect of the present
invention is attained.
TABLE
______________________________________
Chemical Bond Cleavage Reaction of Chemical
Included in L.sub.2
Bond (Reaction with OH)
______________________________________
COO COOH + HO
##STR5## NH.sub.2 + HO
SO.sub.2 O SO.sub.3 H +
HO
OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SO.sub.2
OH + CH.sub.2CHSO.sub.2
##STR6## OH + HO
##STR7## NH.sub.2 + HO
______________________________________
The divalent linking group shown in the Table above is connected directly
or through an alkylene group and/or a phenylene group with Z, and
connected directly with Y. When the divalent linking group is connected
through an alkylene group and/or a phenylene group, the alkylene group
and/or phenylene group may contain an ether bond, an amido bond, a
carbonyl group, a thioether bond, a sulfone group, a sulfonamido bond, or
a ureido bond.
Preferred examples of the linking group represented by L.sub.2 and the
bonding thereof to Z and Y are set forth below.
##STR8##
In the above described formulae, d represents an integer from 0 to 10,
preferably from 0 to 5; W.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen
atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 5 carbon
atoms, an alkanamido group having from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 5
carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to 10 preferably from 1 to 5
carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having from 1 to 10, preferably from
1 to 5 carbon atoms, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an alkanesulfonamido group
having from 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an aryl group, a
carbamoyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an arylsulfonamido group, a
sulfamoyl group or an imido group; W.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an
alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group or an alkenyl
group; W.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro group,
an alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group having
from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and p represents an integer from 0 to 6.
The alkyl group or the alkenyl group represented by X or Y specifically
represents a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic alkyl group or
alkenyl group having 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and
preferably has a substituent. Examples of the substituents include a
halogen atom, a nitro group, an alkoxy group having from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms, an aryloxy group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an
alkanesulfonyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an arylsulfonyl
group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkanamido group having from 1
to 5 carbon atoms, an anilino group, a benzamido group, a carbamoyl group,
a carbamoyl group substituted with an alkyl group having from 1 to 6
carbon atoms, a carbamoyl group substituted with an aryl group having from
6 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkylsulfonamido group having from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms, an arylsulfonamido group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, al
alkylthio group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an arylthio group having
from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a phthalimido group, a succinimido group, an
imidazolyl group, a 1,2,4-triazolyl group, a pyrazolyl group, a
benzotriazolyl group, a furyl group, a benzothiazolyl group, a alkylamino
group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkanoyl group having from 1 to
4 carbon atoms, a benzoyl group, an alkanoyloxy group having from 1 to 4
carbon atoms, a benzoloxy group, a perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 4
carbon atoms, a cyano group, a tetrazolyl group, a hydroxy group, a
carboxy group, a mercapto group, a sulfo group, an amino group, an
alkylsulfamoyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an arylsulfamoyl
group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a morpholino group, an aryl group
having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a pyrrolidinyl group, a ureido group, a
urethane group, a carbonyl group substituted with an alkoxy group having
from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group substituted with an aryloxy
group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an imidazolidinyl group or an
alkylidenamino group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, etc.
The alkanamido group or the alkenamido group represented by X specifically
represents a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic alkanamido group or
alkenamido group having from 1 to 10, and preferably from 1 to 5 carbon
atoms which may be substituted. Examples of the substituents are selected
from the substituents as defined for the above described alkyl group or
alkenyl group, etc.
The alkoxy group represented by X specifically represents a straight chain,
branched chain or cyclic alkoxy group having from 1 to 10, and preferably
from 1 to 5, carbon atoms which may be substituted. Examples of the
substituents are selected from the substituents as defined for the above
described alkyl group or alkenyl group, etc.
The aryl group represented by X or Y specifically represents a phenyl group
or a naphthyl group which may be substituted. Examples of the substituents
are selected from the substituents as defined for the above described
alkyl group or alkenyl group and an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms, etc.
The heterocyclic group represented by Y include a diazolyl group (for
example, a 2-imidazolyl group, a 4-pyrazolyl group, etc.), a triazolyl
group (for example, a 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl group, etc.), a thiazolyl group
(for example, a 2-benzothiazolyl group, etc.), an oxazolyl group (for
example, 1,3-oxazol-2-yl group, etc.), a pyrrolyl group, a pyridyl group,
a diazinyl group (for example, a 1,4-diazin-2-yl group, etc.), a triazinyl
group (for example, a 1,2,4-triazin-5-yl group, etc.), a furyl group, a
diazolinyl group (for example, an imidazolin-2-yl group, etc.), a
pyrrolinyl group, or a thienyl group, etc.
Of the couplers represented by the general formula (I), preferred couplers
are those represented by the general formula (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI),
(VII) or (VIII) shown below. These couplers are preferred since the
development inhibiting function of development inhibitor released
therefrom is strong.
##STR9##
In the above described formulae (II) and (V) to (VIII), A, L.sub.2 and Y
each has the same meaning as defined in formula (I).
In the above described general formula (III), A.sub.1 represents the
coupler residue as defined for A in formula (I), excluding cyan color
image forming coupler residues.
In the above described formula (IV), A.sub.2 represents a cyan color image
forming coupler residue of the coupler residues as defined for A in
formula (I).
In the above described formulae (III) and (IV), X, L.sub.2 and Y each has
the same meaning as defined in formula (I).
Further, the effects of the present invention are particularly exhibited
when couplers represented by formula (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII),
(XIV), (XV), (XVI), (XVII), (XVIII), or (XIX) described below are
employed. These couplers are preferred because of their high coupling
rates.
##STR10##
In the above described formulae, X and Y each has the same meaning as
defined in the general formula (II) or (III).
In the above described general formulae, R.sub.1 represents an aliphatic
group, an aromatic group, an alkoxy group or a heterocyclic group; and
R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic
group.
The aliphatic group represented by R.sub.1 is preferably an aliphatic group
containing from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and may have substituents or not,
and further, may have a chain form or a cyclic form. Preferable
substituents therefor include an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino
group, an acylamino group, a halogen atom, etc., each of which may further
have a substituent(s). Specific examples of aliphatic groups useful for
R.sub.1 include an isopropyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group,
an isoamyl group, a tert-amyl group, a 1,1-dimethylbutyl group, a
1,1-dimethylhexyl group, a 1,1-diethylhexyl group, a dodecyl group, a
hexadecyl group, an octadecyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a
2-methoxyisopropyl group, a 2-phenoxyisopropyl group, a
2-p-tert-butylphenoxyisopropyl group, an .alpha.-aminoisopropyl group, an
.alpha.-(diethylamino)isopropyl group, an .alpha.-(succinimido)isopropyl
group, an .alpha.-(phthalimido)isopropyl group, an
.alpha.-(benzenesulfonamido)isopropyl group, etc.
In the case that R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 represents an aromatic group
(especially a phenyl group), it may have a substituent. The aromatic group
such as a phenyl group, etc. may be substituted with an alkyl group, an
alkenyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an
alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aliphatic amido group, an alkylsulfamoyl
group, an alkylsulfonamido group, an alkylureido, alkyl-substituted
succinimido group, etc. each containing 32 or less carbon atoms. The alkyl
group therein may include an alkyl group which contains an aromatic group
such as phenylene in its chain. Further, a phenyl group represented by
R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 may be substituted with an aryloxy group, an
aryloxycarbonyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, an arylamido group, an
arylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfonamido group, an arylureido group, etc.,
the aryl moiety of which groups each may be substituted with one or more
alkyl groups wherein the number of carbon atoms is from 1 to 22 in total.
Furthermore, a phenyl group represented by R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 may
be substituted with an amino group which may include an amino group
sbustituted with a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a
hydroxy group, a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, a cyano
group, a thiocyano group or a halogen atom.
In addition, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, or R.sub.3 may represent a substituent
formed by condensing a phenyl group and another ring, to form, for
example, a naphthyl group, a guinolyl group, an isoquinolyl group, a
chromanyl group, a coumaranyl group, a tetrahydronaphthyl group, etc.
These substituents may further have substituents in themselves.
In the case that R.sub.1 represents an alkoxy group, the alkyl moiety
thereof represents a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group having
from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an
alkenyl group, a cyclic alkyl group or a cyclic alkenyl group, each of
which may be substituted with a halogen atom, an aryl group, an alkoxy
group, etc.
In the case that R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 represents a heterocyclic
group, the heterocyclic group is bonded to the carbon atom of the carbonyl
group of the acyl moiety or the nitrogen atom of the amido moiety of an
.alpha.-acylacetamido group through one of the carbon atoms forming the
ring. Examples of such heterocyclic rings include thiophene, furan, pyran,
pyrrole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, indolizine,
imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, triazine, thiadiazine, oxazine, etc. These
rings may further have substituents on the individual rings.
In the above-described formula (XI), R.sub.5 represents a straight chain or
branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably
from 1 to 22 carbon atoms (e.g., a methyl group, an isopropyl group, a
tert-butyl group, a hexyl group, a dodecyl group, etc.), an alkenyl group
(e.g., an allyl group, etc.), a cyclic alkyl group (e.g., a cyclopentyl
group, a cyclohexyl group, a norbornyl group, etc.), an aralkyl group
(e.g., a benzyl group, a .beta.-phenylethyl group, etc.), a cyclic alkenyl
group (e.g., a cyclopentenyl group, a cyclohexenyl group, etc.), etc.,
which groups each may be substituted with a halogen atom, a nitro group, a
cyano group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a carboxy
group, an alkylthiocarbonyl group, an arylthiocarbonyl group, an
alkoxycarbonyl group, an arloxycarbonyl group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl
group, a carbamoyl group, an acylamino group, a diacylamino group, ureido
group, a urethane group, a thiourethane group, a sulfonamido group, a
heterocyclic group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an
arylthio group, an alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino
group, an anilino group, an N-arylanilino group, an N-alkylanilino group,
an N-acylanilino group, a hydroxy group, a mercapto group, etc.
R.sub.5 may further represent an aryl group (e.g., a phenyl group, an
.alpha.- or .beta.-naphthyl group, etc.). The aryl group may have one or
more substituents. Specific examples of the substituents include an alkyl
group, an alkenyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aralkyl group, a cyclic
alkenyl group, an halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an aryl
group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a carboxy group, an
alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl
group, a carbamoyl group, an acylamino group, a diacylamino group, a
ureido group, a urethane group, a sulfonamido group, a heterocyclic group,
an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylthio group, an
alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, an anilino
group, an N-alkylanilino group, a N-arylanilino group, an N-acylanilino
group, a hydroxy group, a mercapto group, etc. A more preferable group for
R.sub.5 is a phenyl group which is substituted with an alkyl group, an
alkoxy group, a halogen atom, etc., at least one of the o-positions,
because it is effective to restrain discoloration of couplers remaining in
film layers due to light or heat.
Furthermore, R.sub.5 may represent a heterocyclic group (e.g., a 5-membered
or 6-membered heterocyclic ring containing as a hetero atom a nitrogen
atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, or a condensed ring thereof, each
specific examples including a pyridyl group, a quinolyl group, a furyl
group, a benzothiazolyl group, an oxazolyl group, an imidazolyl group, a
naphthoxazolyl group, etc.), a heterocyclic group substituted with one or
more substituents as defined for the above-described aryl group, an
aliphatic acyl group, an aromatic acyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an
arylsulfonyl group, an alkylcarbamoyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, an
alkylthiocarbamoyl group or an arylthiocarbamoyl group.
In the above-described formulae, R.sub.4 represents a hydrogen atom, a
straight chain or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon
atoms, preferably from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group, a cyclic
alkyl group, an aralkyl group or a cyclic alkenyl group (each of which may
have one or more substituents as defined for the above-described
substituent R.sub.3), an aryl group or a heterocyclic group (which each
also may have one or more substituents as defined for the above-described
substituent R.sub.5), an alkoxycarbonyl group (e.g., a methoxycarbonyl
group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, a stearyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), an
aryloxycarbonyl group (e.g., a phenoxycarbonyl group, a naphthoxycarbonyl
group, etc.), an aralkyloxycarbonyl group (e.g., a benzyloxycarbonyl
group, etc.), an alkoxy group (e.g., a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a
heptadecyloxy group, etc.), an aryloxy group (e.g., a phenoxy group, a
tolyloxy group, etc.), an alkylthio group (e.g., an ethylthio group, a
dodecylthio group, etc.), an arylthio group (e.g., a phenylthio group, an
.alpha.-naphtylthio group, etc.), a carboxy group, an acylamino group
(e.g., an acetylamino group, a
3-[(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)acetamido]benzamido group, etc.), a
diacylamino group, an N-alkylacylamino group (e.g., an
N-methylpropionamido group, etc.), an N-arylacylamino group (e.g., an
N-phenylacetamido group, etc.), a ureido group (e.g., a ureido group, an
N-arylureido group, an N-alkylureido group, etc.), a urethane group, a
thiourethane group, an arylamino group (e.g., a phenylamino group, an
N-methylanilino group, a diphenylamino group, a N-acetylanilino group, a
2-chloro-5-tetradecanemidoanilino group, etc.), an alkylamino group (e.g.,
a n | | |
