BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In general, high-contrast photographic images are used for the formation of charactor
images or color separation halftone dot images in the photomechanical process or for
the formation of finely detailed line drawing images in the super-high resolution
photomechanical process. Accordingly, certain silver halide photographic materials
for use in such processes are known to be capable of forming very high-contrast photographic
images.
[0002] There is a conventional image-forming method in which a light-sensitive material
comprised of a silver chlorobromide emulsion whose silver halide grains have an average
grain size of, for example, 0.2 um, a narrow grain size distribution and uniform configuration
and whose silver chloride content is as high as at least 50 mole% is processed in
an alkaline hydroquinone developer solution having a low sulfite ion concentration
to thereby obtain high-contrast, high-sharpness and high-resolution images such as,
e.g., halftone dot or fine line drawing images.
[0003] Silver halide light-sensitive materials of such the kind are known as lith-type light-sensitive
materials.
[0004] The photomechanical process includes a process for converting a continuous-tone original
image into a halftone dot image, i.e., the process for converting changes in the density
of the continuous tone of an original into an assemblage of dots having areas proportional
to the respective densities.
[0005] In this process, the above-mentioned lith-type light-sensitive material is used,
exposed through a crossline screen or contact screen to an original image, and then
developed, whereby a halftone dot image is formed.
[0006] To accomplish this, a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material having
a fine-grained silver halide emulsion comprising silver halide grains uniform in the
grain size as well as in the grain configuration is used, but even when a light-sensitive
material of this kind is used, if processed in a developer solution for general black
and-white developing use, the obtained results will be inferior in the halftone dot
image formation to those obtained when processed in a lith-type developer solution.
Therefore, the light-sensitive material should be processed in a lith-type developer
solution of a single hydroquinone developing agent and an extremely low sulfite ion
concentration. However, the lith-type developer solution, since its preservability
is very poor due to its proneness to undergo autoxidation, essentially needs a control
method to keep its developing quality constant even when used continuously over a
long period. Every effort has hitherto been made to improve the preservability of
this developer solution.
[0007] As for the improvement, a replenishing method which, in order to retain the lith-type
developer solution's preservability, separately uses both a replenisher to make up
for the deterioration of the solution's activity due to development (processing fatigue
replenishment) and a replenisher to make up for the exhaustion of the solution due
to its autoxidation in time (spontaneous fatigue replenishment), the so-called two-liquid
separately replenishing method is generally widely employed in automatic processors
for photomechanical process use. The above method, however, has the disadvantage that
it requires control of replenishing balance of the two liquids, thus complicating
the processor as well as its operation.
[0008] Also, the lith-type developer solution is unable to quickly provide processed images
because it takes time (introduction period) until when an image begins to appear in
its developing process.
[0009] On the other hand, methods for obtaining rapidly high-contrast images without using
the above-mentioned lith-type developer solution are known, which comprise incorporation
of a hydrazine compound into a silver halide light-sensitive material as described
in, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 2,419,97, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection
(hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication) Nos. 16623/1976 and
20921/1976. According to these methods, the sulfite ion concentration can be maintained
high in a developer solution, so that processing can take place in a developer solution
with its preservability being raised. However, any of these methods requires the use
of a fairly high pH-having developer solution in order to give a high-contrast image,
so that they come into question in respect of the developer solution's stability if
they are to be used as the technique to provide high-sensitivity images rapidly. Also,
this developer solution has another disadvantage that its pH is so high as to tend
to fog the light-sensitive material in processing, motivating the incorporation of
various organic antifoggants in a high concentration into the solution, thus resulting
in the sacrifice of the sensitivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is a first object of the present invention to provide a method for the formation
of images which is capable of forming high-contrast images rapidly and stably.
[0011] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a method for the formation
of images which is capable of forming high-sensitivity, high-contrast images stably
with little or no loss of sensitivity.
[0012] It is a third object of the present invention to provide a method for the formation
of images which is capable of forming high-contrast images with little fog.
[0013] It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a method for the formation
of images which is capable of forming high-contrast images having an excellent haftone
dot quality.
[0014] Other objects of the present invention will become apparent according to the following
description of this specification.
[0015] The above objects of this invention is accomplished by a method for forming an image
comprising a step of development of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material
having a silver halide emulsion layer in a developer, wherein said silver halide emulsion
layer contains a compound selected from the group consisting of 3-pyrazolidone-type
compounds, dihydroxybenzene-type compounds or trihydroxybenzene-type compounds, and
the developer contains a compound selected from the group consisting of dihydroxybenzene-type
compounds and trihydroxybenzene-type compounds, a sulfite and amino compounds; said
development being performed in the presence of a compound selected from the group
consisting of compounds represented by the following Formulas 1, 2 and 3:

wherein R, and R
2 each represents an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R represents a divalent organic
group, n is an integer of zero to 6, and m is an integer of zero to 1, provided that
when n is 2 to 6, the Rs are the same as or different from each other,

wherein R
21 is an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; R
22 is a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group, a heterocyclic oxy group, an amino group, or
an aryloxy group; P
1 and P
2 each represents a hydrogen atom, an acyl group or a sulfinic acid group,

wherein Ar is an aryl group containing a non-diffusible group or a silver halide adsorption
accelerating group; and R
31 is a substituted alkyl group.
[0016] The construction of this invention will be described to a greater detail in the following:
The foregoing Formulas 1, 2 and 3 will be further detailed below:

wherein R
1 and R
2 each represents an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, which each may have a substituent;
R is a divalent organic group, n is an integer of zero to 6; and m is an integer of
zero or 1.
[0017] Herein, the aryl group represented by the R
1 or R
2 is a phenyl naphthyl or the like group, and the heterocyclic group is a pyridyl,
benzothiazolyl, quinolyl, thienyl or the like group, but the R
1 or R
2 is preferably the aryl group. The aryl group or heterocyclic group represented by
the R
1 or R
2 include those having one of various substituents, examples of which include a halogen
atom such as chlorine, bromine, etc.; an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, dodecyl,
etc.; an alkoxy group such as methoxy, ethoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, octyloxy, dodecyloxy,
etc., an acylamino group such as acetylamino, pivalylamino, benzoylamino, tetradecanoylamino,
a-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butylamino, etc.; a sulfonylamino group such as methanesulfonylamino,
butanesulfonylamino, dodecanesulfonylamino, benzenesulfonylamino, etc.; an ureido
group such as phenylureido, ethylureido, etc.; a thioureido group such as phenyl-thioureido,
ethyl-thioureido etc.; a hydroxy group; an amino group; an alkylamino group such as
methylamino, dimethylamino, etc., a carboxy group; an alkoxycarbonyl group such as
ethoxycarbonyl: a carbamoyl group: a sulfo group; and the like. The divalent organic
group represented by the R is, for example, an alkylene group such as methylene, ethylene,
trimethylene, tetramethylene, etc.; an arylene group such as phenylene naphthylene
etc.; an aralkylene group; or the like, but the alkylene group may contain in its
linkage an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, selenium atom, carbonyl group, R - N - group
(wherein R
3 represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or aryl group), sulfonyl group, or the like.
The group represented by the R includes one having one of various substituents, examples
of which include a -CONHNHR4 group (wherein R
4. is as defined in the foregoing R
1 and R
2), alkyl group, alkoxy group, halogen atom, hydroxy group, carboxy group, acyl group,
aryl group, and the like.
[0018] Preferred as the R is the alkylene group.
[0019] Preferred among those compounds having Formula 1 is a compound of the formula in
which the R
1 and R
2 are substituted or unsubstituted phenyl groups, n = m = 1, and the R represents an
alkylene group.
[0020] Typical compounds having the above Formula 1 are as follows:
[0022] The aliphatic group represented by R
21 is preferably one having 6 or more carbon atoms, and particularly a straight-chain,
branched-chain or cyclic alkyl group having from 8 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein the
branched-chain alkyl group is allowed to be so cyclized as to form an unsaturated
heterocyclic ring containing therein one or more hetero atoms. Also, this alkyl group
includes one having such as an aryl, alkoxy or sulfoxy group.
[0023] The aromatic group represented by the R
21 is preferably a monocyclic or bicyclic aryl group or an unsaturated heterocyclic
group, wherein the unsaturated heterocyclic group may be condensed with a monocyclic
or bicyclic aryl group to form a heteroaryl group.
[0024] Examples of the ring of such cyclic groups include benzene ring, naphthylene ring,
pyridine ring, pyrimidine ring, imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, quinoline ring, isoquinoline
ring, benzimidazole ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, and the like. Out of
these, those groups containing the benzene ring are preferred.
[0025] The most preferred as the R
21 is an aryl group.
[0026] The aryl group or unsaturated heterocyclic group repre sented by the R
21 includes one having a substituent, typical examples of which include straight-chain,
branched-chain or cyclic alkyl groups such as those monocyclic or bicyclic ones of
which the alkyl portion's number of carbon atoms is from 1 to 20; alkoxy groups having
preferably from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; substituted amino group, preferably amino groups
substituted by an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; acylamino groups having
preferably from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; sulfonamido groups having preferably from 1
to 30 carbon atoms; ureido groups having preferably from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; and
the like.
[0027] Of those groups represented by the R
22 of Formula 2, the substitutable alkoxy group is one having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms,
and may be substituted by a halogen atom, an aryl group or the like.
[0028] Of those groups represented by the R
22 of Formula 2, the substituted aryloxy group or heterocycloxy group is preferably
monocyclic, and substituents to these groups include a halogen atom, alkyl group,
alkoxy group, cyano group and the like.
[0029] In the case of the amino group, it is represented by

wherein A, and A
2 each represents a substitutable alkyl group or alkoxy group or may be a cyclic group
of a structure containing -0-, -S- or -N- group linkage, provided that the R
22 is no hydrazino group.
[0030] The R
21 or R
22 of Formula 2 may be one into which is incorporated a ballasting group that is usually
used in immobile photographic additives such as couplers. The ballasting group is
a relatively photographically inactive group having 8 or more carbon atoms, which
may be selected from among, for example, alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, phenyl group,
alkylphenyl groups, phenoxy group, alkylphenoxy groups, and the like.
[0031] The R
21 or R
22 of Formula 2 may be one into which is incorporated a group that strengthens the adsorption
to the silver halide grain surface. Examples of such the adsorption group include
those groups as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,355,105 such as thiourea group, heterocyclic
thioamido group, mercapto heterocyclic group, triazole group, and the like.
[0032] Of those compounds having Formula 2, those represented by the following Formula 2-a
are particularly preferred.

wherein R
23 and R
24 each represents a hydrogen atom, a substitutable alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl,
butyl, dodecyl 2-hydroxypropyl, 2-cyanoethyl, 2-chloroethyl or the like, substitutable
phenyl group, naphthyl group, cyclohexyl group, pyridyl group, pyrrolidyl group, such
as phenyl, p-methyl phenyl, naphthyl, a-hydroxynaphthyl, cyclohexyl, p-methylcyclohexyl,
pyrdiyl, 4-propyl-2-pyridyl, pyrrolidyl, 4-methyl-2-pyrrolidyl, etc.; R
25 is a hydrogen atom or a substitutable benzyl, alkoxy or alkyl group, such as benzyl,
p-methylbenzyl, methoxy, ethoxy, ethyl, butyl; R
26 and R
27 each represents a divalent aromatic group such as phenylene or naphthylene; Y is
a sulfur atom or oxygen atom; L is a divalent linkage group such as -S0
2CH
2CH
2NH-S0
2NH-, -OCH
2SO
2NH-, -0-, -CH=N-; R
28 is a -NR'R" group or -OR
29 group wherein R', R and R
29 each represents a hydrogen atom, a substitutable alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl,
dodecyl, etc., a phenyl group such as phenyl, p-methylphenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, etc.,
or a naphthyl group such as a-naphthyl, 6-naphthyl, etc.; and m and n each is an integer
of zero or 1. When the R
28 represents OR
29, the Y represents preferably a sulfur atom.
[0033] The following are typical compounds represented by Formulas 2 and 2-a.
[0035] Subsequently, Compounds 2-45 and 2-47 out of the above exemplified compounds will
be taken as examples to show their synthesis methods below:
Synthesis of Compounds 2-45
[0036] Synthesis Scheme:

[0037] One hundred and fifty-three grams of 4-nitrophenyl-hydrazine and 500 ml of diethyl
oxalate were mixed, and the mixture was refluxed for one hour. While the reaction
was making progress, the ethanol was removed, and the reaction product was cooled
to deposit crystals. The deposit was filtered and washed several times by using petroleum
ether to be recrystallized. Then, 50 grams of the obtained crystals (A) were dissolved
in 1000 ml of methanol by heating, and reduced under pressure of 50 p.s.i. in an H
2 atmosphere in the presence of a pd/C (palladium/carbon) catalyzer, whereby a compound
(B) was obtained.
[0038] Twenty-two grams of this compound (B) were then dissolved into a mixture solution
of 200 ml of acetonitrile and 16 grams of pyridine, and to this solution was dropwise
added an acetonitrile solution of 24 grams of a compound (C) at room temperature.
After filtering off insoluble matter, the filtrate was concentrated and recrystallized
to be refined, whereby 31 grams of a compound (D) were obtained.
[0039] Thirty grams of the compound (D) were then hydrogenated in similar manner to the
above, whereby 20 grams of a compound (E) were obtained.
[0040] Ten grams of the compound (E) were dissolved into 100 ml of acetonitrile, to the
solution was added 3.0 grams of ethyl isothiocyanate, and the mxiture was refluxed
for one hour. After distilling off the solvent, the reaction product was recrystallized
to be refined, whereby 7.0 grams of a compound (F) were obtained. Five point zero
grams of the compound (F) were then dissolved into 50 ml of methanol, and to this
were added 8 ml of an aqueous 40% methylamine solution, and the mixture liquid was
stirred. After distilling off the methanol to concentrate the liquid to some extent,
the deposited solid was taken out and recrystallized to be refined, whereby Compound
2-4 was obtained.
Synthesis of Compound 2-47
[0041] Synthesis Scheme:

[0042] Twenty-two grams of the compound (B) were dissolved into 200 ml of pyridine, and
to the solution, with stirring, were added 22 grams of p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride.
The resulting reaction mixture was poured into water, and the deposited solid was
taken out to obtain a compound (C). From the compound (C) Compound 2-47 was obtained
by similar reactions to those of Compound 2-45 in accordance with the synthesis scheme.
[0043] Subsequently, Formula 3 will be explained

wherein Ar is an aryl group containing at least one nondiffusible group or silver
halide adsorption accelerating group. As the nondiffusible group, a ballasting group
that is usually used in immobile photographic additives such as couplers is preferred.
The ballasting group is a relatively photographically inactive group having 8 or more
carbon atoms, which may be selected from among, for example, alkyl groups, alkoxy
groups, phenyl group, alkylphenyl groups, phenoxy group, alkylphenoxy groups, and
the like.
[0044] Examples of the silver halide adsorption accelerating group include those groups
as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,385,108, such as thioureido group, thiourethano
group, heterocyclic thioamido group, mercapto heterocyclic group, triazolyl group,
and the like.
[0045] R31 represents a substituted alkyl group. The alkyl group is a straight-chain, branched-chain
or cyclic alkyl group, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl, pentyl, cyclohexyl
or the like.
[0046] Examples of the substituent to be introduced to these alkyl groups include alkoxy
groups such as methoxy, ethoxy, etc.; aryloxy groups such as phenoxy, p-chlorophenoxy,
etc.; heterocycloxy groups such as pyridyfoxy; mercapto group, alkylthio groups such
as methylthio, ethylthio, etc.; arylthio groups such as phenylthio, p-chlorophenylthio,
etc.; heterocyclic thio groups such as pyridylthio, pyrimidylthio, thiadiazolyl- thio,
etc.; alkylsulfonyl groups such as methanesulfonyl, butanesulfonyl, etc.; arylsulfonyl
groups such as benzene sulfonyl; heterocyclic sulfonyl groups such as pyridylsulfonyl,
morpholinosulfonyl, etc.; acyl groups such as acetyl, benzoyl, etc. cyano group; chlorine;
bromine; alkoxycarbonyl groups such as ethoxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, etc.; aryloxycarbonyl
groups such as phenoxycarbonyl; carboxy group, carbamoyl group; alkylcarbamoyl groups
such as N-methylcarbamoyl, N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl, etc.; arylcarbamoyl groups such
as N-phenylcarbamoyl: amino group; alkylamino groups such as methylamino N,N-dimethylamino,
etc.; arylamino groups such as phenylamino, naphthylamino, etc.; acylamino groups
such as acetylamino, benzoylamino, etc.; alkoxycarbonylamino groups such as ethoxycarbonylamino;
aryloxycarbonylamino groups such as phenoxycarbonylamino; acyloxy groups such as acetyloxy,
benzoyloxy, etc.; alkylaminocarbonyloxy groups such as methylaminocarbonyloxy; arylaminocarbonyloxy
groups such as phenylaminocarbonyloxy; sulfo group; sulfamoyl group; alkylsulfamoyl
groups such as methylsulfamoyl; arylsulfamoyl groups such as phenylsulfamoyl; and
the like.
[0047] The hydrogen atom of the hydrazine may be substituted by a sulfonyl group such as
methanesulfonyl, toluenesulfonyl, etc.; an acyl group such as acetyl, trifluoroacetyl,
etc.; an oxalyl group such as ethoxalyl, or the like.
[0048] The following are typical compounds represented by the foregoing Formula 3.
[0050] Synthesis examples of several of these compounds having Formula 3 will then be given
below:
Synthesis of Compound 3-2
[0051] Synthesis Scheme:

[0052] Fifteen point three grams (0.1 M) of p-nitrophenylhydrazine were dissolved into 7
ml of acetonitrile, and to this solution, while being cooled by ice, were added dropwise
16.3 g (0.15 M) of methoxyacetyl chloride. and then added dropwise 15.2 g (0.15 M)
of triethylamine. After completion of the dropwise addition, the reaction liquid was
poured into 750 ml of water, then the aqueous solution was neutralized by an aqueous
sodium hydroxide solution, and the thereby deposited crystals were filtered and then
dried, whereby 15.5 g of a methoxyacetyl compound (I) were obtained: Yield: 70%.
[0053] Fifteen point five grams of the methoxyacetyl compound (I) (0.07M) and 3.0 g of palladium
carbon catalyst were added to 120 ml of acetic acid, and this mixture was vigorously
stirred under normal pressure in a hydrogen gas current at room temperature. About
five hours later, the adsorption of the hydrogen gas was completed to have the reaction
come to an end. The reaction liquid was then filtered to remove the catalyst therefrom.
To the filtrate were added 14.0 g of potassium acetate, and to this were dropwise
added 20.7 g (0.06 M) of 2-(2',4'-di-t-pentyl)phenoxybutyryl chloride (111) at room
temperature. After that, the reaction liquid was poured into 1 liter of water, and
the separated oily phase was decanted and dissolved into 300 ml of chloroform, and
then washed by dilute alkaline water. The separated chloroform phase was dehydrated
by adding MgS0
4 thereto and then filtered. The filtrate was then concentrated to thereby obtain 27
g of a crude product. This was refined by column chromatography (200 g of silica,
chloroform : ethyl acetate = 100 : 1), whereby 16.6 g of Compound 3-25 were obtained:
Yield: 50%, melting point: 50.8 to 52.0 C.
Synthesis of Compound 3-3
[0054] Synthesis Scheme:

[0055] In the same manner as in the foregoing synthesis method for Compound 3-2, 9.4 g (42
mM) of methoxyacetyl compound (I) were used to effect reactions, whereby a compound
(II) was synthesized, and after filtering off the catalyst residuum, into the filtrate
were dissolved 50 ml of acetic acid and 3.5 g (42 mM) of Sodium acetate, and then
to the solution, while being cooled to 15° C or lower, were added dropwise 6.6 g (42
mM) of phenyl chloroformate. Further, the reaction liquid, after being stirred for
10 minutes at room temperature, was poured into 500 ml of iced water, then neutralized
by sodium carbonate, and then extracted by chloroform: The chloroform phase was washed
by water, dehydrated by MgSO
4, then filtered, and then concentrated, whereby 9.3 g of crude product were obtained.
This product was washed by a solvent (acetonitrile : ethyl acetate : hexane = 10:5:1)
with stirring thereby to be refined, whereby 7.4 g of a phenyl ester compound (IV)
were obtained: Yield: 78%.
[0056] To 560 ml of toluene were added 7.4 g (23 mM) of the phenyl ester compound (IV),
0.2 g of imidazole and 8.4 g (28 mM) of 4-(2',4'-di-t-pentylphenoxy)-n-butylamine
(V), and the mixture was refluxed by heating with stirring for 1.5 hours. After that,
the reaction liquid was concentrated, whereby 16.2 g of a residuum were obtained.
This product was subsequently refined by column chromatography (200 g of silica, chloroform
: ethyl acetate = 100:1), whereby 9.9 g of Compound 3-3 were obtained: Yield: 82%.
[0057] Synthesis of Compound 3-5 Synthesis Scheme:

[0058] In the same manner as in the synthesis method for Com pound 3-2, 11.6 g (2 mM) of
the methoxyacetyl compound (I) were used to effect reactions, and the catalyst residuum
was filtered off. The filtrate was concentrated, the produced residuum was dissolved
into 460 ml of ethyl acetate, this solution was neutralized by anhydrous potassium
carbonate, and the insoluble matter was filtered off. The filtrate was dehydrated
by MgS0
4, filtered, and then concentrated, whereby 9.7 g of a crude product were obtained.
This product was recrystallized in chloroform to be refined, whereby 6.2 g of an amino
compound (II) were obtained: Yield: 61%.
[0059] Six point two grams (32 mM) of the amino compound (11) were dissolved into 60 ml
of acetonitrile, and to this solution, under a reflux-by-heating condition, were dropwise
added 4.1 g (47 mM) of ethyl isothiocyanide, and, after the dropwise addition, the
reflux was further continued for two hours. After the reaction liquid was cooled to
5
. C or lower, the deposited matter was filtered, and then dried, whereby 4.5 g of a
crude product were obtained. This was recrystallized in acetone to be refined, whereby
3.9 g of Compound 3-5 were obtained: Yield: 43%, melting point: 164.2 to 165.0°C.
Synthesis of Compound 3-34
[0060] Synthesis Scheme:

[0061] Ten grams of Compound (I) and 2.0 g of a 5% palladium-carbon catalyst were added
to 80 ml of ethanol, and this mixture was vigorously stirred, thereby having the compound
absorb a theoretical amount of H
2. The catalyst was filtered off, the filtrate was then concentrated, and to the residuum
were added 50 ml of ethanol, and further were dropwise added at 15°C or lower 14.4
g of p-n-decyloxybenzaldehyde. The reaction of the liquid lasted overnight in a nitrogen
gas current. The deposited crystals were filtered, and washed twice by isopropyl ether,
whereby 16.0 g of a crude product were obtained. Six grams of the crude product were
recrystallized in 30 ml of benzene, whereby 5.5 g of Compound 3-34 were obtained:
Melting point: 127 to 127.5
0 C.
Synthesis of Compound 3-51
[0062] Synthesis Scheme:

[0063] Eight point five grams of Compound 3-34 and 1.2 g of a 5% palladium-carbon catalyst
were added to 77 ml of ethanol to thereby have the compound absorb a theoretical amount
of H
2. Ethanol was added to the reaction liquid to dissolve the deposited crystals therein,
then the catalyst was filtered off. the filtrate was dried up, and the residuum was
recrystallized from isopropyl ether/methanol, whereby 5.9 g of Compound 3-51 were
obtained: Melting point: 86 to 87° C.
Synthesis of Compound 3-52
Synthesis Scheme:
[0064]

[0065] Nine point four grams of Compound (I) and 1.8 g of a 5% palladium-carbon catalyst
were added to 50 ml of acetic acid to thereby have.the compound absorb a theoretical
amount of H
2. After the reaction, the catalyst was filtered off, and to the filtrate were added
3.5 g of sodium acetate. To the mixture were then dropwise added at 15°C or lower
11.3 g of p-octyloxybenzoyl chloride, and their reaction lasted overnight at room
temperature. After that, the reaction liquid was poured into 500 ml of water, and
to this was added CHCl
3 in order to restrain the liquid from foaming, and the liquid was neutralized by NaHCO
3. The deposited crystals were filtered, then dried, and then recrystallized from isopropyl
ether/methanol, whereby 8.2 g of Compound 3-52 were obtained: Melting point: 183 to
184° C.
[0066] In the method of this invention, the hydrazide compound having Formula 1, 2 or 3
should be contained in the light-sensitive material and/or a developer solution. In
the case of incorporating the compound into the light-sensitive material, the compound
should be incorporated into a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing
a 3-pyrazolidone compound and a di- or trihydroxybenzene-type compound and/or at least
one of other layers on the support from which the compound can be diffused to move
into the emulsion layer at least by the time of development. In this instance, the
amount of the hydrazide compound is preferably from 1×10
-6 to 1×10
-1 mole, and more preferably from 1×10
-4 to 1×10
-2 mole per mole of silver halide. Its suitable amount may be discretionarily determined,
taking into account the composition, grain sizes and degree of chemical ripening of
the silver halide to be used, the amount of a hydrophilic colloid as the binder of
layers, and its balance with additives such as stabilizer, restrainer, accelerating
agent, and the like.
[0067] In the case of incorporating the hydrazide compound into a developer solution, its
adding amount is from 10-
5 to 10-
2 mole, and preferably from 10-
4 to 10-
3 mole per liter of the developer solution, and its suitable amount may be determined,
taking into account its balance with the amino compound to be present together, pH,
antifoggant, and the like.
[0068] The 3-pyrazolidone compound to be contained in the light-sensitive material for use
in the method of this invention is a compound having the following Formula:

wherein R' is a substitutable aryl group, R
2, R
3 and R
4 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substitutable alkyl group. The substituent to
the aryl group represented by the R' is, for example, a methyl, chloro, amino, methylamino,
acetylamino, methoxy or methylsulfonamidoethyl group. The aryl group represented by
the R' is, for example, a phenyl, p-aminophenyl, p-chlorophenyl, p-acetamidophenyl,
p-methoxyphenyl or the like group.
[0069] The alkyl group represented by the R
2, R
3 or R
4 may be in any of the straight-chain, branched-chain or cyclic form, and is preferably
one having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and being allowed to have a substituent such as,
e.g., a hydroxy, carb oxy, sulfo or the like group. The alkyl group is such as, for
example, a methyl, hydroxymethyl, ethyl or propyl group.
[0070] Typical examples of the above-mentioned 3-pyrazolidone compound are as follows:
A-1: 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-2: 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-3: 1-phenyl-4-methyl-4-hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-4: 1-phenyl-4,4-di(hydroxymethyl)-3-pyrazolidone
A-5: 1-phenyl-5-methyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-6: 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-7: 1-p-aminophenyl-4-methyl-4-propyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-8: 1-p-chlorophenyl-4-methyl-4-ethyl-3-pyrazotidone
A-9: 1-p-acetamidophenyl-4,4-diethyl-3-pyrazolidone
A-10:1 1-p-methoxyphenyl-4,4-diethyl-3-pyrazolidone
[0071] The position of the compound inside the light-sensitive material is to be in the
light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, but may also be in non-emulsion layers
such as the protective layer, intermediate layer, subbing layer, backing layer, etc.
Incorporation of the compound should be made generally in the form of a solution of
it dissolved in an organic solvent. Its adding amount is from 10
-6 to 10
-1 mole per mole of silver halide, but when it is in the range of from 10-
4 to 10-
2 mole, the best results can be obtained.
[0072] The di- or trihydroxybenzene compound to be contained in the light-sensitive material
and developer solution for use in the image forming method of this invention is a
compound having the formula:

wherein R", R
12 and R
13 each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or a substituted
alkyl group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group or a
substituted heterocyclic group, a -0-R'
4 group, or a -S-R'
4 group, wherein R
14 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group or
a substituted aryl group, or a heterocyclic group or a substituted heterocyclic group;
and n is an integer of zero or 1.
[0073] Typical examples of the above di- or trihydroxybenzenetype compound are as follows:
B-1: Hydroquinone
B-2: Chlorohydroquinone
B-3: Bromohydroquinone
B-4: Methyl-hydroquinone
B-5: 2,3-dichlorohydroquinone
B-6: 2,5-dibenzoylaminohydroquinone
B-7: Butyl gallate
B-8: Ethyl gallate
[0074] The position of the compound inside the light-sensitive material of this invention
is to be in the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, but may also be in non-emulsion
layers such as the protective layer, intermediate layer, subbing layer, backing layer,
etc. Incorporation of the compound should be made generally in the form of a solution
of it dissolved in water or an organic solvent including alcohols such as methanol,
ethanol, etc.; glycols such as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, etc.; ketones
such as acetone; or the like. Its adding amount is from 0.001 to 0.10 mole per mole
of silver halide, and preferably from 0.005 to 0.03 mole.
[0075] As the dihydroxybenzene-type compound to be contained in a developer solution for
use in the method of this invention, hydroquinone, widely used in general photographic
processing, is most preferred, and its adding amount is normally from 0.05 to 0.5
mole per liter.
[0076] The sulfite to be contained in the developer solution for use in the method of this
invention may be one that is usually used in developer solutions for use in developing
ordinary silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, and examples of it
include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium
bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, addition compound of formaldehyde with sodium
bisulfite, and the like. The sulfite's concentration need only be such a concentration
as to protect the developer solution from air oxidation to thereby enable to obtain
a sufficient sulfite ion concentration for providing stable photographic characteristics,
and thus its adding amount needs to be not less than 0.05 mole per liter, and preferably
more than 0.15 mole per liter.
[0077] The amino compound to be contained in the developer solution for use in the method
of this invention is used for the purpose of accelerating the increase in image contrast;
particularly, of enhancing its effect even on a relatively low pH level of the developer
solution. Those useful amino compounds for this invention include inorganic amines
and organic amines. The organic amine can be an aliphatic amines aromatic amine, cyclic
amine, aliphatic-aromatic mixture amine, or heterocyclic amine. Primary amines, secondary
amines, tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium compounds have been all found out
to be effective.
[0078] Alkanolamines particularly suitable for object of this invention have the formula:

wherein R
21 is a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to carbon atoms; R
22 and
23 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl
group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a benzyl group or a group having the formula:

wherein n is an integer of 1 to 10, and X and Y each is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl
group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 1o carbon atoms.
[0079] Different-type amino compounds also suitable are alkylamines; particularly those
having the formula:

wherein R
24 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R
25 and R
26 each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
[0080] Among a large number of amino compounds usable in practicing this invention, those
particularly typical ones will be exemplified below:
C-1: Triethanolamine
C-2: Diethanolamine
C-3: Ethanolamine
C-4: 2-Diethylamino-1-ethanol
C-5: 2-Methy)amino-1-ethanoi
C-6: Diethylamino-1-propanol
C-7: 5-Amino-1-pentanol
C-8: Diethanolamine
C-9: Triethylamine
C-10: Diisopropylamine
C-11: 2-Dibutylaminoethanol
C-12: 1-4-Cyclohexane-bis(methylamine)
C-13: o-Aminobenzoic acid
C-14: Aminoguanidine sulfate
C-15: 4-Amino-1-butanol
C-16: 3-Pyrrolidino-1,2-propanediol
C-17: 3-(dimethylamino)-1,2-propanediol
C-18: 1,4-piperazino-bis(ethanesulfonic acid)
C-19: 3-piperidino-1,2-propanediol
[0081] The adding amount of the amino compound to be used in this invention is in the range
of from 0.01 to 1.0 mole per liter, and preferably from 0.01 to 0.04 mole per liter.
[0082] The developer solution to be used in this invention is desirable to contain 5- or
6-nitroindazole. The compound is considerably effective in preventing a light-sensitive
material from being fogged and keeping its sensitivity and contrast high. Its suitable
adding amount is in the range of from 0.0001 to 0.1 mole per liter of the developer
solution.
[0083] Further, the developer solution for use in the method of this invention may contain
a 3-pyrazolidone compound or o- or p-aminophenol compound as a developing agent in
addition to the dihydroxybenzene-type compound. The suitable pH range of the developer
solution is from 10 to 12. In order to maintain the pH range, an alkali metal hydroxide
or carbonate may be added as an alkali agent to the developer solution. Further, in
order to restrain a light-sensitive material from being fogged due to development,
an inorganic antifoggant such as potassium bromide and an organic antifoggant including
a triazole compound such as 5-methylbenzotriazole, 5-chlorobenzotriazole; a mercapto
compound such as 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole; or the like,
may be used.
[0084] The developer solution for use in the method of this invention may contain arbitrary
additives according to purposes in addition to the foregoing components. Such additives
include solvents, buffers, sequestering agents, development accelerators, viscosity
increasing agents, emulsion layer's swelling restraining agents, and the like.
[0085] The processing in the method of this invention may take place under various conditions:
developing temperature is preferably not more than 50 C, and more preferably around
40 C, and developing time is generally within three minutes; particularly, in many
cases, developing within two minutes produces good results. Besides the developing
process, other processes such as, e.g., washing, stopping, stabilizing, fixing and
at need additional processes such as prehardening, neutralizing, etc., may be arbitrarily
employed and may also be distretionarily omitted. Furthermore, these processings may
be made in manual manner such as tray development, frame development, or in mechanical
way such as roller development, hanger development, or the like.
[0086] For the silver halide emulsion of the light-sensitive material to be used in this
invention, various silver halides may be used, such as silver chloride, silver bromide,
silver chlorobromide, silver iodobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, or the like. This
invention exhibits its effect significantly when an emulsion of a silver halide composition
containing not less than 50 mole% silver bromide is used, and is particularly effective
to a high-speed light-sensitive material having less silver iodide (not more than
5 mole% Agl).
[0087] The silver halide suitably usable in the silver halide emulsion layer in this invention
is silver chlorobromide or silver chloroiodobromide containing not less than 50 mole%
silver bromide. If the silver bromide content is less than 50 mole%, a fog including
pepper fog tends to appear on the processed film.
[0088] The silver halide to be contained in the silver halide emulsion layer of the light-sensitive
material for use in this invention is desirable to be of silver halide grains whose
average grain size is from 0.1 to 1.0µm, particularly preferably from 0.1 to 0.7µm,
and which contain grains having sizes 0.7 to 1.3 times the average grain size accounting
for at least 75%, particularly preferably more than 80% of the whole silver halide
grains.
[0089] The crystal habit of the silver halide grain may be either cubic or octahedral, and
may also be of the tablet type as disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication
No. 10852/1983.
[0090] The method of preparing silver halide grains of the silver halide emulsion layer
in this invention may be the single-jet method according to the orderly mixing method,
inversely mixing method, etc., or the double- jet method according to the simultaneously
mixing method, and of these the particularly preferred is the simultaneously mixing
method. Also, the preparation may be made according to the ammoniacal process, neutral
process, acidic process, or the modified ammoniacal process as disclosed in Japanese
Patent Examined Publication No. 3232/1983, of which the particularly preferred is
the acidic process or neutral process.
[0091] These silver halide grains may contain thereinside metal atoms such as iridium, rhodium,
osmium, bismuth, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, iron, copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, etc.
In the case of incorporating such metal atoms, the metal content of silver halide
grains is desirable to be 10-
8 to 10-
5 mole per mole of the silver halide. The silver halide grain is desirable to be of
the surface latent image type.
[0092] The silver halide photographic emulsion of the silver halide emulsion layer according
to this invention (hereinafter referred to as the silver halide photographic emulsion
of this invention) may be subjected to chemical sensitization. The chemical sensitization
includes sulfur sensitization, reduction sensitization and noble-metal sensitization.
In this invention, the chemical sensitization is desirable to be made by the sulfur
sensitization alone. As the sulfur sensitizer, the sulfur compound contained in gelatin
and various sulfur compounds such as, e.g., thiosulfates, thioureas, thiazoles, rhodanines
and the like may be used; more particularly, those sulfur sensitizers as described
in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,574,944, 2,410,689, 2,728,668, and Japanese Patent Examined
Publication No. 11892/2984 may be used.
[0093] The silver halide light-sensitive photographic material of this invention is desirable
to further contain those compounds having the following Formulas 4, 5, 6 or 7 from
the antifogging point of view.

wherein A is a phosphorus atom or a nitrogen atom; R
4-1, R
42, R
43, and Rt4 each represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group;
and X- is an acid anion.

wherein Y and Z each represents a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom, provided that when
either one of the Y and Z is a nitrogen atom, the other is a carbon atom; R
51 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a halogen atom or a nitro group.
[0094] Formula 6

wherein R
61 R
62 and R
63 each represents a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxy group, a mercapto group,
an alkyl group or an aryl group.
Formula 7
[0095] Y[S-L
1-(J
1)
k-(L
2)
l-(Z)
m-(L
3)
n-(J
2L
4)
p(G)
q]
r wherein L
1 through L4 each represents a divalent hydrocarbon group; J
1 and J
2 each represents -O-, -COO- , -CONR
71-, S0
2NR
71-, -NR
71-CO-NR
72-,-SO
2-, -N=N-, -NR
71- or -CO-; Y represents a hydrogen atom, a divalent group or a linkage, or an amino
group; Z is a heterocyclic group; G is a sulfonic group, a carboxyl group or a phosphonic
acid group, R
71 and R
72 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; k, I, m and n each
is an integer of zero to 2; p is an integer of zero to 4; q is an integer of 1 to
4; and r is an integer of 1 or 2, provided that when G is a carboxyl group, m is an
integer of 1 or 2, and when Y is a divalent group or a single linkage, r is an integer
of 2.
[0096] Subsequently, the compound having Formula 4 of this invention will be explained.
[0097] In Formula 4, the alkyl group, which is allowed to have a substituent, represented
by the R
41, R
42, R
43 or R
44 is preferably a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms such as methyl,
ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or octyl group, and the substituent to the alkyl group is,
for example, a hydroxy, sulfo, carboxy or amino group or a halogen atom.
[0098] The aryl group, which may have a substituent, represented by the R
41, R
42, R
43 or R
44 is a phenyl or naphthyl group, and preferably the phenyl group. The substituent to
the aryl group is an alkyl group, preferably a lower alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon
atoms; an alkoxycarbonyl group; an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, the
alkyl portion of which groups has 1 to 8 carbon atoms; a nitro group, a cyano group,
a halogen atom, a -N(C
2H
5)2HCI- group, or the like.
[0099] The aralkyl group, which may have a substituent represented by the R
41, R
42, R
43 or R
44 is, for example, a benzoyl, phenyl or the like group, and preferably the benzoyl
group. The substituent to the aralkyl group includes, for example, the same groups
as those to the above aryl group.
[0100] The substituent to the electron attractive group owned by the aryl or aralkyl group
represented by the R
41, R
42, R
43 or R
44 is typified by a halogen atom or a nitro, cyano, carbonyl, carboxyl, sulfonyl or
quaternary amino group.
[0101] The anion represented by the X- is a chloride ion, bromide ion, iodide ion, cyanide
ion, hypochlorite ion, p-toluene-sulfonate ion, benzene-sulfonate ion, hydroxide ion,
or the like.
[0102] The compound having Formula 4 may be easily synthesized in accordance with the method
described in Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 40665/1975.
[0103] As will be shown in the example given hereinafter, where a compound which is similar
in the chemical structure to the foregoing Formula 4 but comprises an aryl or aralkyl
group having no electron attractive substituent is used, the compound has no pepper
fog restraining effect to the resulting light-sensitive photographic material.
[0105] Incorporation of the compound having Formula 4 into the component of a silver halide
light-sensitive photographic material should be made in the manner that the compound
is dissolved in water or in an organic solvent arbitrarily miscible with water, such
as methanol or ethanol, and the solution is then incorporated into the component.
The adding amount of the compound, although it depends on the types of the silver
halide, component, compound, etc. to be used, is generally from 10-
7 to 10-
3 mole per mole of silver halide, and more preferably from 10-
6 to 10-
4 mole.
[0106] Next, the compound having the foregoing Formula 5 will be explained.
[0107] In Formula 5, the lower alkyl group represented by the R
51 may be a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or butyl group.
[0108] Typical examples of the compound having Formula 5 are given below:
5-1: 5-Nitroindazole
5-2: 6-Nitroindazole
5-3: 5-Methyl-indazole
5-4: 6-Methyl-indazole
5-5: Indazole
5-6: 5-Chlorobenzimidazole
5-7: 5-Methyl-benzimidazole
5-8: 5-Ethyl-benzimidazole
5-9: 5-Nitrobenzimidazole
5-10: 6-Nitrobenzimidazole
5-11: 5-Chlorobenzimidazole
5-12: Benzimidazole
[0109] Any of these compounds having Formula may be used in the adding amount range of from
1×10
-5 to 1×10
-1 mole per mole of silver halide, and more preferably from 1×10
-4 to 1×10
-2 mole. Incorporation of the compound may be performed in accordance with that of the
compound having Formula 1.
[0110] The compound having Formula 6 will then be explained.
[0111] In Formula 6, the alkyl group represented by the R
61, R
62 or R
63 may be either straight-chain or branched-chain, preferably having from 1 to 16 carbon
atoms, such as methyl, ethyl or a long-chain alkyl group like dodecyl group. The aryl
group represented by the R
61, R
62 or R
63 is a phenyl or naphthyl group.
[0112] The following are typical examples of the compound having Formula 6:
6-1: 6-Aminopurine
6-2: 4-Amino-6-hydroxypurine
6-3: 6-Benzylaminopurine
6-4: 6-Mercaptopurine
6-5: 4,6-Dihydroxypurine
6-6: 4,6-Diaminopurine
6-7: 1-Methyl-6-aminopurine
6-8: 4-Methyl-6-aminopurine
6-9: 1-hydroxy-6-aminopurine
6-10: 1-Mercapto-4-octyl-purine
6-11: 4-Phenyl-6-aminopurine
6-12: 1,6-Diaminopurine
[0113] Any of these compounds having Formula 6 is used in the adding amount range of from
1×10
-5 to 1×10
-1 mole per mole of silver halide, and more preferably from 1x10-
4 to 1×10
-1 mole. Incorporation of the compound may be performed in accordance with that of Formula
1.
[0114] The compound having Formula 7 will now be explained.
[0115] In Formula 7, the divalent hydrocarbon group represented by the L
1 to L
4 is, for example, an alkylene, arylene or aralkylene group. The alkylene group is
preferably a straight-chain or cyclic one having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, such as,
e.g., a methylene, ethylene, propylene, pentamethylene, dodecamethylene, 1,6-cyclohexylene
or the like group.
[0116] The arylene group represented by the L
1 or L
2 is, for example, a 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, 1,4-naphthylene, 1,4-anthraquinolylene
or the like group. And the aralkylene group is, for example, a benzylene, phenethylene
or the like group.
[0117] The amidino group represented by the Y includes one having a substituent. The substituent
is, for example, an a]ky] group such as methyl, ethyl, benzyl etc., an aryl group
such as a phenyl, p-tolyl, naphthyl, etc., or a heterocyclic group such as 2-thiazolyl,
2-pyridyl, 4 imidazolyl, etc.
[0118] The heterocyclic group represented by the Z is preferably a 5- to 7-member cyclic
group, which includes those condensed with a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, 5- or
6-member heterocyclic ring or 5- or 6-member aliphatic ring; e.g., such heterocyclic
rings as furan, thiophene, benzo[b]thiophene, imidazole, benzimidazole, pyrrole, s-triazine
pyrimidine, quinoline, indole, benzoxazole, benzothiazole, and the like.
[0119] The alkyl group represented by the R
71 or R
72 is. e.g., a methyl, ethyl, propyl or the like group, and the aryl group is, e.g.,
a phenyl or naphthyl group.
[0120] Further, the divalent hydrocarbon group represented by the L
1 to L
4, the alkyl and aryl groups each represented by the R
71 or R
72, and the heterocyclic group represented by the Z include those each having a substituent.
Examples of the substituent include, e.g., alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, sec-propyl,
etc.; alkoxy groups such as methoxy, ethoxy, etc.; amino groups such as methylamino,
N,N-dimethylamino, butylamino, etc.; aryl groups such as tolyl, phenyl, etc.; aryloxy
groups such as phenoxy, naphthoxy, etc.; mercapto group, sulfo group, carboxy group,
cyano group, carbamoyl group, sulfamoyl group; amido groups such as acetylamino, benzoylamino,
etc.; sulfonyl groups such as methanesulfonyl, benzenesulfonyl, etc.; alkoxycarbonyl
groups such as ethoxycarbonyl; aryloxycarbonyl groups such as phenyloxycarbonyl; acyl
groups such as acetyl, benzoyl, propionyl, etc.; heterocyclic groups such as thienyl,
oxazolyl, cinnolyl, etc.; and in addition, -J2L4G and -J
1-L
1-SH, wherein Ji, J
2, L
1, L
4 and G are as defined previously.
[0121] The carboxyl group, sulfo group and phosphoric acid group represented by the G may
either be free- acid or form their corresponding salts, and those to form their corresponding
salts include inorganic cations including alkali metals such as Na, K, Li; alkaline
earth metals such as Ca, Mg; and ammonium; or organic ammoniums such as pyridinium,
triethyl ammonium, triethanol ammonium, guanidium, and the like; and further, they
may form intramolecular salts.
[0122] The compound having Formula 7, which is applicable to this invention, according to
selection of the Y, is classified as mercapto-substituted anionic derivatives (7-1),
pseudothiuronium intramolecular salt derivatives (7-II) and disulfide derivatives
(7-111). The following are typical examples of these compounds:
[0124] These compounds having Formula 7 may be easily synthesized by making reference to
literatures such as, e.g., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 77, 6231 (1955): J. Heterocycl. Chem.,
1968, 5(3) 319-22; Arm. Khim. Zh., 1976. 20(10), 832-5; and the ]ike.
[0125] That is, in general, the pseudothiuronium intramolecular salt derivative (7-II) can
be obtained by effecting addition reaction in a water-soluble solvent such as, e.g.,
methanol, ethanol, water-containing ethanol, etc., in accordance with the following
scheme:

[0126] The sulfide derivative (7-1), part of the compound of this invention, is synthesized
by hydrolyzing in a moderate alkaline atmosphere the compound (7-II) shown in the
above scheme; to be concrete, can be isolated as a guanidium salt by heating the compound
(7-II) in an aqueous ammonium solution. The guanidium salt may be converted into an
arbitrary salt by being sujected to ion exchange treatment or salt exchange operation.

[0127] The sulfide derivative (7-1), by being oxidized, is made into a disulfide derivative
(7-111).

[0128] In Formulas II, 7-1, 7-II and 7-III, the L
1 to L
4, J
1 and J
2, Z, G, k, I, m, n, p, q and r are all as defined in the foregoing Formula 7; the
s
1 and s
2 each is an integer of 1; and s
3 is an integer of 2.
[0129] In Formula II, the Nu represents a nucleophilic group such as. e.g., a chlorine atom,
bromine atom, iodine atom, p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, trifluoromethyl-sulfonyloxy
group, or the like.
[0130] In Formula III, the R
73 and R
74 each represents a hydro gen atom or an alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group.
[0131] Any of these compounds having Formula 7 may be incorporated either into a light-sensitive
material or into a developer solution. In the case of the incorporation into a light-sensitive
material, the compound is allowed into all the photographic layers including silver
halide emulsion layers, and its adding amount is preferably from 1×10
-7 to 1×10
-3 mole per m
2. When the compound is to be added to a developer solution, its suitable adding amount
is from 1×10
-1 to 1×10
-3 mole per liter. The incorporation of the compound is carried out generally in the
manner that it is dissolved into water or an organic solvent arbitrarily miscible
with water, such as methanol, ethanol, etc., and the solution is then added.
[0132] The silver halide emulsion which is applicable to this invention may be made color-sensitive
to desired wavelength regions by using sensitizing dyes. Usable sensitizing dyes include
those commonly available ones including methine dyes and styryl dyes, such as cyanines,
hemicyanines, rhodacyanines, merocyanines, oxonols, hemioxonols and the like.
[0133] Reference can be made for the above-mentioned dyes to U.S. Patent Nos. 2,742,833,
2,756,148, 3,567,458, 3,615,517, 3,615,519, 3,632,340, 3,155,159, 3,384,485, 4,232,115,
3,796,80, 4,028,110, 3,752,673, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 401/1980, and
the like.
[0134] Particularly preferred among these sensitizing dyes are those compounds having the
following Formulas 8 throuqh 11:

wherein Rε
1 and R
82 each represents a substitutable alkyl group, provided that at least one of the R
81 and R
82 is a sulfoalkyl or carboxyalkyl group; Z is an alkyl or aralkyl group; U, V, W and
Y each is a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or substitutable alkyl group, substitutable
alkoxy group, substitutable alkoxycarbonyl group, carboxyl group or hydroxyl group,
X- is an acid anion; and m is an integer of 1 or 2, provided that the m is when an
intramolecular salt is formed.
[0135] Examples of the substituent to the alkyl group represented by the R
S1 or R
82 include hydroxyl group, sulfo group, sulfonate group, carboxyl group and salts thereof;
halogen atoms such as fluorine atom, chlorine atom, etc.; substituted or unsubstituted
alkoxy groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may be further substituted by
a sulfo group, hydroxyl group, etc.; alkoxycarbonyl groups having from 2 to 5 carbon
atoms; alkylsulfonyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms: sulfamoyl group; substituted
or unsubstituted carbamoyl groups including carbamoyl groups substituted by an alkyl
group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; phenyl groups substituted by, e.g., a sulfo
group, carboxyl group, hydroxyl group, etc.; vinyl group; and the like.
[0136] Examples of the unsubstituted alkyl group include methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl
groups. Examples of the substituted alkyl group include hydroxyalkyl groups such as
2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, etc.; sulfoalkyl groups such as 2-sulfoethyl, 3-sulfopropyl,
3-sulfobutyl, 4-sulfobutyl, 2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl, 2-chloro-3-sulfopropyl, etc.;
carboxyalkyl groups such as carboxymethyl carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, etc.; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl
group; 2-(3-sulfopropyloxy)ethyl group; 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl group; ethoxycarbonylethyl
group; methylsulfonylethyl group; sulfamoylalkyl groups such as 2-sulfamoylethyl group;
2-carbamoylethyl group; 2-N,N-dimethylcarbamoylethyl group; phenethyl group; p-carboxyphenethyl
group; sulfoaralkyl groups such as p-sulfophenethyl, etc.; p-hydroxyphenethyl group;
phenoxyethyl group; and the like.
[0137] The halogen atom represented by the U, V, W or Y is, e.g., a fluorine atom, chlorine
atom, bromine atom, or the like. The alkyl group is, e.g., a methyl, ethyl, propyl.
butyl or the like group. The alkoxy group is, e.g., a methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy
or the like group. The alkoxycarbonyl group is, e.g., a methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl
or the like group. Each of these groups may be substituted by a halogen atom, sulfo
group, hydroxyl group, carboxy group, or the like.
[0138] The alkyl group represented by the Z is, for example, a methyl, ethyl or propyl group.
The aralkyl group represented by the Z is, e.g., a benzyl group. The acid anion represented
by the X- is, for example, a chloride, bromide, iodide, thiocyanate, sulfonate, methyl
sulfonat, ethyl sulfonate, perchlorate, p-toluene-sulfonate. or the like.
[0139] Examples of the compound having Formula 8, which is applicable to this invention,
will be given in Table 1.

therein R
91, R
92 and R
93 each represents a substitutable alkyl group; U , V , W and Y each represents a hydrogen
atom, halogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, cyano group, carboxyl group, alkoxy group,
alkoxycar- ponyl group, hydroxyl group, acyloxy group, hydroxyalkyl group, hydroxyalkoxy
group or phenyl group; X-s an acid anion; and n is an integer of 1 or 2, provided
that the n is 1 when an intramolecular salt is ormed.
[0140] The alkyl group represented by the R
91, R
92 or R
93 is as defined in the alkyl group of the R
81 or R
82 of Formula 8.
[0141] The alkoxy group represented by the U', V', W or Y is, for example, a methoxy group,
ethoxy group, propoxy group or butoxy group; the alkoxycarbonyl group is, for example,
a methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, or the like; the acyloxy group is,
for example, an acetyloxy group, propionyloxy group or the like; the hydroxyalkyl
group is, e.g., a hydroxymethyl group, hydroxyethyl group, hydrox- propyl group, hydroxybutyl
group or the like; and the hydroxyalkoxy group is, e.g., a hydroxymethoxy group, hydroxyethoxy
group, hydroxypropoxy group, hydroxybutoxy group or the like.
[0142] The acid anion represented by the X- is as defined in the X- of Formula 8.
[0143] Examples of the compound having Formula 9, applicable to this invention, will be
given in the following Table 2.

wherein R
101, R
102, R
103 and R
104 each represents a substitutable alkyl group; U, V, W and Y each represents a hydrogen
atom, halogen atom, substitutable alkyl group, substitutable alkoxy group, substitutable
alkoxycarbonyl group, carboxyl group, hydroxyl group, cyano group or substitutable
acyloxy group.
[0144] The alkyl group represented by the R
101, R
102, R
103 or R
104 is as defined in that of the R
81 or R
82 of Formula 8; the halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group and alkoxycarbonyl group
represented by the U, V, W or Y are as defined in the U or Y of Formula 8; the acyloxy
group is as defined in the U or Y of Formula 9; and 1 is an integer of 1 or 2.
[0145] The acid anion represented by the X- is as defined in the X
- of Formula 8.
[0146] Examples of the compound of Formula 10 will be given in the following Table 3.

[0147] These sensitizing dyes having Formulas 8 through 10 are of the prior art, and may
be easily synthesized by those methods of the prior art; for example, in accordance
with those methods as described in the literature cited in, e.g., F. M. Homes, 'The
Cyanine Dyes and Related Compounds,' Interscience Publishers, New York (1964).

[0148] In the above formula R
111 is an alkyl group, particularly an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, which
is preferably a methyl, ethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, carboxymethyl,
2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl, 4-carboxybutyl, sulfoethyl, 3-sulfopropyl, 3-sulfobutyl,
4-sulfobutyl, vinylmethyl, benzyl, phenethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or the
like group. Z is a group of non-metal atoms necessary to form a 5- or 6-member heterocyclic
ring, such as, e.g., a thiazole ring, selenazole ring, oxazole ring, benzothiazole
ring, benzoselenazole ring, benzoxazole ring, naphthothiazole ring, naph- thoselenazole
ring, naphthoxazole ring, pyridine ring, quinoline ring, or the like. Each heterocyclic
ring may have a substituent such as, e.g., a halogen atom such as chlorine, bromine,
etc.; an alkyl group, preferably an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such
as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, etc.; a halogenated alkyl group such as trifluoromethyl;
an alkoxy group, preferably an alkoxy group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such
as methoxy, ethoxy, n-propyloxy, etc.; a hydroxy group; an aryl group such as phenyl;
or the like. Q, is a group of nonmetal atoms necessary to form a 5-member cyclic ring
such as a rhodanine ring, thiohydantoin ring, thiooxazolidine-di-one ring, thioselenalidine-di-one
ring or the like. Each of these heterocyclic rings may have a substituent such as
an alkyl group preferably an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as
methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxyethyloxyethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-acetoxyethyl,
carboxymethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl, 4-carboxybutyl, 2-sulfoethyl, 3-sulfopropyl,
3-suffobutyt, 4-sulfobutyl, benzyl, phenethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, etc.; an aryl group
such as phenyl, p-sulfophenyl, etc.; pyridyl group such as 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl,
4-methyl-2-pyridyl, etc.; or the like. And m is an integer of 1 or 2.
[0149] Examples of the compound having Formula 11 include, for example, the following Compounds
11-1 through 11-25:
[0151] Any of these compounds having Formula 11, applicable to this invention, may be easily
synthesized in accordance with those methods as described in, e.g., U.S. Patent No.
2,161,331 and West German Patent No. 936,071.
[0152] Incorporation/dispersion of any of these sensitizing dyes of Formulas 8 through 11,
applicable to this invention, into a silver halide emulsion may be carried out in
accordance with various methods of the prior art, such as, for example, those methods
of dispersing sensitizing dyes along with a surface active agent as described in Japanese
Patent Examined Publication No. 44895/1974 and Japapnese Patent O.P.I. Publication
No. 11419/1975 those methods of adding sensitizing dyes in the form of a dispersed
product with a hydrophilic substrate as described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication
Nos. 16624/1978, 102732/1978, 102733/1978, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,469,987 and 3,676,147;
and those methods of adding sensitizing dyes in the form of a solid solution as described
in East German Patent No. 143,324. Aside from the above methods, a different method
may also be used which is such that a merocyanine dye is dissolved into a single or
mixed water-soluble solvent such as water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, propanaol,
fluorinated alcohol, pyridine, etc., and the solution is then added to an emulsion.
The addition may be made at any point of time in the course of preparing an emulsion,
but is preferably to be made during or after the emulsion's chemical ripening. The
adding amount of these sensitizing dyes having Formulas 8, 9 and 10, usable in this
invention, is an amount necessary for the spectral sensitization of a silver halide
emulsion, such as, e.g., 10-
5 to 2x10-
2 mole per mole of silver halide, and more preferably from 10-
4 to 2x10-
3 mole.
[0153] The silver halide photographic emulsion of the light-sensitive material to be used
in this invention may contain a hardening agent, examples of which include those commonly
usable as hardening agents; aldehydes such as formaldehyde, glyoxal, glutaraldehyde,
mucochloric acid, etc.; N-methylol compounds such as dimethylol urea, methylol-dimethylhydantoin,
etc.; dioxane derivatives such as 2,3-dihydroxydioxane, etc.; active vinyl compounds
such as 1,3,5-triacryloyl-hexahydro-s-triazine, bis(vinylsulfonyl)methyl ether, etc.;
active halogen compounds such as 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine, etc.; and the
like. These may be used alone or in combination. The emulsion may also use those commonly
applicable additives such as a viscosity increasing agent, matting agent, coating
aid, and the like, and further a protective colloid hydrophilic binder material as
its binder.
[0154] Furthermore, the light-sensitive material of this invention may, according to purposes,
contain ordinary additives such as couplers, ultraviolet absorbing agent, brightening
agent, image stabilizer, oxidation inhibitor, lubricant, sequestering agent, dispersing
agent, and the like.
[0155] The light-sensitive material for use in the method of this invention may have non-silver-halide-emulsion
layers such as a protective layer, intermediate layers, filter layers, antihalation
layer, subbing layer, auxiliary layers, antiirradiation layer, and the like. As the
support for these layers, baryta paper, polyethylene- laminated paper, cellulose acetate
film, cellulose nitrate film, polyethylene terephthalate film and the like may be
arbitrarily selected according to the purpose for which the light-sensitive material
is used.
[0156] The light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and other layers coated on the support
may contain a homo- or copolymer latex comprised of an alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate,
acrylic acid, glycidyl acrylate, etc., for the purpose of improving the dimensional
stability of layers' physical property of the light-sensitive material.
[0157] The light-sensitive silver halide emulsion may contain a stabilizer or antifoggant
such as 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7-tetrazaindene, 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole, resolcinol-oxime,
hydroiquinone-aldoxime or any of various other equivalent compounds, which may be
added in an amount of from 10-
4 to 10-
1 mole per mole of silver halide.
EXAMPLES
[0158] The present invention will be illustrated further in detail, but the invention is
not limited to and by the examples.
EXAMPLE 1
[0159] Silver iodobromide grains containing 1.5 mole% silver iodide were prepared, which
were cubic grains having an average grain size of 0.30 um. The silver halide grains
were subjected to both gold sensitization and sulfur sensitization, then to this emulsion
were added a sensitizing dye and a stabilizer 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7-tetrazaindene,
and then the emulsion was divided into 13 parts so that each part contains 1 mole
of silver halide. To these parts of the emulsion were added 3-pyrazolidone compounds
and di- or tri- hydroxybenzene-type compounds of the kinds and in the amounts specified
in Table 4, and further were added saponin, formalin and glyoxal. And each of these
emulsions was coated on a polyethylene terephthalate support so that the coating weight
of the silver was 4.5g/m
2, and over this emulsion layer was coated a gelatin protective layer so that the coating
weight of the gelatin was 1.8g/m
2, and the layers were dried, whereby light-sensitive material samples were obtained.
[0160] Each sample was cut into a small piece, and the piece was exposed for 20 seconds
through a step wedge with a contact screen for negative use (100 lines per inch) attached
to its one side to a tungsten light. This sample was processed for 30 seconds at 35
C in the following developer solution and fixing solution by using KONICA Automatic
Processor GR-27 (manufactured by KONICA CORPORATION).
[0161] Each of the thus processed samples was measured by means of a KONICA Digital Densitometer
PDP-65, and the sensitivity of each sample was expressed as a relative speed to the
Sample No.1's sensitivity obtained at a density point of 3.0, which was regarded as
100, and further the tangent to the line between the density points of 0.3 and 3.0
was expressed as the gamma of each sample. Also, evaluation of the halftone dot quality
of each sample was made in the manner of visual observation through a 100-power magnifier
and by rating the quality on the basis of 10-grade evaluation system, in which those
dots with their periphery having little or no fringe and being smooth are rated Grade
10, while those dots with their periphery having much fringe and being jagged are
rated Grade 1.
Developer Solution:
[0162]

Fixer Solution:
[0163]
Composition A:

Composition B:

[0164] Before use, dissolve Composition A and Composition B in the order given into 500
ml of water, and then add water to make one liter. Adjust the pH of this fixer solution
to 6 by using acetic acid.

[0165] As is apparent from Table 4, the use of these compounds of this invention enables
the formation of high-contrast, high-quality halftone dots.
EXAMPLE 2
[0166] An emulsion containing silver chlorobromide grains comprised of 65 mole% silver chloride
and 35 mole% silver bromide was prepared. This emulsion was used to prepare Samples
No.21 to No.31 in the same manner as in Example 1 except that compounds of Formulas
4, 5 and 6 were used in combination with the hydrazide compounds of this invention.
[0167] The obtained samples were evaluated int he same manner as in Example 1. The compositions
and the evaluated results of the respective samples are given in Table 5.

[0168] As is apparent from Table 5, these samples containing the hydrazide compound of this
invention enable the formation of very high-contrast halftone dots with little or
no fog.