[0001] The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive
material containing a novel coupler and, more particularly, to a color photographic
light-sensitive material which can achieve an improved sharpness and a high sensitivity
when image formation is performed in the presence of a novel coupler having a high
reactivity.
[0002] In a color photographic light-sensitive material, when color development is performed
after the material is exposed, an oxidized aromatic primary amine developing agent
and a coupler react with each other to form an image. This method adopts a color reproduction
technique according to subtractive color processes. In order to reproduce blue, green,
and red, color images of their complementary colors, i.e., yellow, magenta, and cyan
are formed.
[0003] Each coupler is required not only to form a dye but also to have various characteristics
such as good spectral absorption characteristics of the formed dye, a high dye formation
rate, a high color forming density, and a high fastness of the formed dye against
light, heat, and humidity. In particular, since a higher sensitivity and a higher
image quality have been required for light-sensitive materials in recent years, a
strong demand has arisen for development of a coupler having a high dye formation
rate and a high color forming density. In addition, in designing a DIR coupler (a
coupler which releases a development inhibitor when reacting with an oxidized form
of an aromatic primary amine developing agent and is used to improve the sharpness
and the color reproducibility of an image), the above properties are very important
factors.
[0004] One effective means of increasing the dye formation rate is a method of introducing
an acid dissociation group or a high polar group to a coupler molecule. Examples are
a method described in JP-A-58-42045 ("JP-A" means Published Unexamined Japanese Patent
Application) in which a p-hydroxybenzenesulfonyl group or a p-hydroxybenzenesulfinyl
group is introduced, and methods described in British Patent 909,318, JP-B-62-61251
("JP-B" means Published Examined Japanese Patent Application), and JP-A-61-121054
in which an N-acylsulfamoyl group is introduced. However, these methods are still
unsatisfactory and required to be further improved.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a color photographic light-sensitive
material which can achieve an improved sharpness and a high sensitivity when image
formation is performed in the presence of a coupler having a high dye formation rate
and a high color forming density.
[0006] The above object of the present invention is achieved by a silver halide color photographic
light-sensitive material, containing a coupler compound represented by formula (I)
below in at least one hydrophilic colloid layer formed on a support:
Formula (I)
A-(SO₂NHCONR¹R²)
n
(wherein A represents a coupler moiety, each of R¹ and R² independently represents
a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group,
or a heterocyclic group, and
n represents an integer of 1 or more, if
n being an integer of 2 or more, respective R¹'s and R²'s being able to be the same
or different, and A and R¹, A and R², or R¹ and R² being able to combine to form a
ring.)
[0007] A compound represented by formula (I) used in the present invention will be described
in detail below.
A-(SO₂NHCONR¹R²)
n (I)
[0008] In formula (I), A represents a coupler moiety which is introduced from, for example,
the following couplers: an image forming coupler; DIR couplers (e.g., couplers described
in U.S. Patents 3,227,554, 4,146,396, 4,248,962, 4,409,323, 4,421,845, 4,477,563,
and 3,148,062); weak diffusing dye forming couplers (e.g., couplers described in U.S.
Patents 4,522,915 and 4,420,556); a developing accelerator or fogging agent releasing
coupler (e.g., a coupler described in U.S. Patent 4,390,618); colored couplers (e.g.,
couplers described in U.S. Patents 4,004,929, 4,138,258, and 4,070,191); a competing
coupler (e.g., a coupler described in U.S. Patent 4,130,427); poly-equivalent couplers
(e.g., couplers described in U.S. Patents 4,283,472, 4,338,393, and 4,310,618); a
DIR redox compound releasing coupler (e.g., a coupler described in JP-A-60-185950);
a coupler releasing a dye which turns to a colored form after being split-off (e.g.,
a coupler described in EP 173,302); and various polymer couplers (e.g., couplers described
in U.S. Patents 3,767,412, 3,623,871, 4,367,282, and 4,474,870).
[0009] A dye formed from the coupler may be any of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Examples of
the yellow coupler are an acylacetoamide type coupler, a malondiamide type coupler,
a malondiester type coupler, a malonesteramide type coupler, a dibenzoylmethane type
coupler, and a 1-heterocyclic acetoamide type coupler. Examples of the magenta coupler
are a 5-pyrazolone type coupler, a pyrazoloimidazole type coupler, a pyrazolotriazole
type coupler, a pyrazolobenzimidazole type coupler, and a cyanoacetophenone type coupler.
Examples of the cyan coupler are a phenol type coupler, a naphthol type coupler, and
an imidazole type coupler. Each coupler may be either a four- or two-equivalent coupler
and may be a coupler which does not essentially form a dye. Examples of such a coupler
are those described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 3,958,993, 3,961,959, 4,315,070, 4,183,752,
and 4,171,223.
[0010] A preferable coupler usable in the present invention is represented by formula (Cp-1),
(Cp-2), (Cp-3), (Cp-4), (Cp-5), (Cp-6), or (Cp-7) below.

[0011] R¹¹ to R²¹, X¹¹ to X¹⁴,
p, and
h will be described below. In the above formulas, if any of R¹¹ to R²¹ and X¹¹ to X¹⁴
contains a nondiffusing group, this nondiffusing group is so selected as to have a
total number of carbon atoms of 8 to 40, and preferably 12 to 32. In other cases,
the total number of carbon atoms is preferably 15 or less. In the case of a bis, telomer,
or polymer type coupler, any of the substituents enumerated above represents a divalent
group and combines, e.g., a repeating unit. In this case, the number of carbon atoms
described above may fall outside the above-defined range.
[0012] In the following description, R³¹ represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an
alkynyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, R³² represents an aryl group
or a heterocyclic group, and each of R³³, R³⁴, and R³⁵ independently represents a
hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group,
or a heterocyclic group.
[0013] R¹¹ represents R³¹CO-, R³², or R³³R³⁴NCO-, and R¹² represents R³³, R³³O-, or R³³R³⁴N-.
R¹³ represents R³¹, R³¹CONR³³-, R³¹R³³N-, R³¹SO₂NR³³-, R³¹S-, R³³O-, R³³R³⁵NCONR³⁴-,
R³¹O₂C-, R³³R³⁴NCO-, or N≡C-.
[0014] R¹⁴ have the same meaning as R³¹. Each of R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ independently represents R³³,
R³¹S-, R³³O, R³¹CONR³³-, R³¹R³³N-, R³¹OCONR³³-, R³³R³⁴NCONR³⁵-, or R³¹SO₂NR³³-.
[0015] R¹⁷ have the same meaning as R³¹. R¹⁸ represents R³¹, R³¹CONR³³-, R³¹OCONR³³-, R³¹SO₂NR³³-,
R³³R³⁴NCONR³⁵-, R³³R³⁴NSO₂NR³⁵-, R³¹S-, R³³O-, a halogen atom, or R³¹R³³N-.
[0016] p represents 0, 1, 2, or 3. If
p represents the plural number, the respective R¹⁸'s may be the same or different or
may combine as divalent groups to form a cyclic structure. Examples of the divalent
group for forming the cyclic structure are formulas (Cy-1), (Cy-2), and (Cy-3) below.

wherein
f represents an integer from 0 to 4, and
g represents an integer from 0 to 2.
[0017] R¹⁹ and R²⁰ have the same meaning as R³¹. R²¹ represents R³¹, R³¹CONH-, R³¹OCONH-,
R³¹SO₂NH-, R³³R³⁴NCONR³⁵-, R³³R³⁴NSO₂NR³⁵-, R³¹S-, R³³O-, a halogen atom, or R³¹R³³N-.
h represents an integer from 0 to 4. If a plurality of R³¹'s are present, they may
be the same or different.
[0018] The alkyl group has 1 to 30, and most preferably 1 to 22 carbon atoms and may be
straight-chain or branched, or chain-like or cyclic. Examples of the alkyl group are
methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, isoamyl, 2-ethylhexyl, dodecyl, and cyclohexyl.
These groups may be further substituted.
[0019] The alkenyl group has 1 to 30, and most preferably 1 to 22 carbon atoms and may be
chain-like or cyclic. Examples of the alkenyl group are vinyl, allyl, 1-methylvinyl,
1-cyclopentenyl, and 1-cyclohexenyl. These groups may be further substituted.
[0020] The alkynyl group has 1 to 30, and most preferably 1 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples
of the alkynyl group are ethynyl, 1-propynyl, and 3,3-dimethyl-1-butynyl. These groups
may be further substituted.
[0021] The aryl group has 6 to 20, and most preferably 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples of
the aryl group are phenyl, naphthyl, and anthracenyl. These groups may be further
substituted.
[0022] The heterocyclic group is preferably a 5- to 7-membered ring, the hetero atom is
preferably a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom, and the number of carbon
atoms is preferably 1 to 10. Examples of the heterocyclic group are 2-furyl, 2-thienyl,
2-pyridyl, 2-imidazolyl, 2-(1,3-oxazolyl), 5-tetrazolyl, 1-piperidinyl, 1-indolinyl,
2-indolinyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-yl, benzoxazole-2-yl, benzothiazole-2-yl, benzoimidazole-2-yl,
1,2,4-triazole-5-yl, 3-pyrazolyl, 1-morpholyl, 2-morpholyl, 2-quinolyl, and 2-quinazolyl.
These groups may be further substituted.
[0023] When the alkyl group, the alkenyl group, the alkynyl group, the aryl group, and the
heterocyclic group have substituents, representative substituents are an alkyl group
(having the same meaning as the alkyl group represented by R³³ to R³⁵), an alkenyl
group (having the same meaning as the alkenyl group represented by R³³ to R³⁵), an
alkynyl group (having the same meaning as the alkynyl group represented by R³³ to
R³⁵), an aryl group (having the same meaning as the aryl group represented by R³¹
to R³⁵), a heterocyclic group (having the same meaning as the heterocyclic group represented
by R³¹ to R³⁵), a halogen atom (e.g., a fluorine, chlorine, or bromine atom), a cyano
group, a nitro group, -NR³³R³⁴, -OR³³, -OCOR³³, -OCONR³³R³⁴, -OSiR³³R³⁴R³⁵, -OSO₂R³³,
-NR³³COR³⁴, -NR33CONR³⁴R³⁵, -N(COR³³)₂,-NR³³SO₂NR³⁴R³⁵, -NR³³CO₂R³⁴, -NR³³SO₂R³⁴,
-CONR³³R³⁴, -COR³³, -CO₂R³³, -SO₂NR³³R³⁴, -SO₂R³³, -SOR³³, -SR³³, -SiR³³R³⁴R³⁵, -SO₂NHCOR³³,
-SO₂NHCO₂R³³, -CONHCOR³³, -CONHSO₂R³³, -CONHSO₂NR³³R³⁴, and -P(O)(OR³³)₂.
[0024] Preferable ranges of R¹¹ to R²¹,
p, and
h will be described below.
[0025] R¹¹ is preferably R³¹CO-, a heterocyclic group, or R³³R³⁴NCO-. In this case, R³¹
is preferably an alkyl group or an aryl group, each of R³³ and R³⁴ is independently,
preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and the heterocyclic
group is preferably a nitrogen-containing unsaturated heterocyclic ring.
[0026] R¹² is preferably R³³R³⁴N-. In this case, each of R³³ and R³⁴ is independently, preferably
a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
[0027] R¹³ is preferably R³¹CONH- or R³¹R³³N-. In this case, R³¹ is preferably an alkyl
group or an aryl group, and R³³ is preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or
an aryl group. R¹⁴ is preferably an aryl group.
[0028] Each of R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ is preferably an alkyl group, an aryl group, R³³O-, or R³¹S-.
[0029] R¹⁷ is preferably an alkyl group or an aryl group.
[0030] In formula (Cp-5), R¹⁸ is preferably a chlorine atom, an alkyl group, or R³¹CONH-,
and
p is preferably 1 or 2.
[0031] R¹⁹ is preferably an aryl group.
[0032] In formula (Cp-6), R¹⁸ is preferably R³¹CONH-, and
p is preferably 1.
[0033] R²⁰ is preferably an alkyl group or an aryl group.
[0034] In formula (Cp-7),
h is preferably 0 or 1, and R²¹ is preferably R³¹OCONH-, R³¹CONH-, or R³¹SO₂NH-. The
substitution position of R²¹ is preferably the 5 position of a naphthol ring.
[0035] Representative examples of R¹¹ to R²¹ will be described below.
[0036] When R¹¹ is represented by R³¹CO-, examples of R³¹ are t-butyl, 4-methoxyphenyl,
phenyl, 3-[2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide]phenyl, 4-octadecyloxyphenyl, and methyl.
[0037] When R¹¹ have the same meaning as R³², examples of R¹¹ are phenyl, 1-methyl-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-yl,
3-[2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide]-1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-yl, 4,5-dicyano-1-methylimidazole-2-yl,
1-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-2-yl, 1-benzyltetrazole-5-yl, 1,3-oxazole-2-yl, 1,3-thiazole-2-yl,
benzoxazole-2-yl, benzothiazole-2-yl, benzoimidazole-2-yl, 2-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 3-nitropyridine-2-yl,
5-nitropyridine-2-yl, 2-pyrimidyl, 3-pyrimidyl, 2-chloropyrimidine-4-yl, 2-triazyl,
and 2-benzyl-4-nitropyrazole-5-yl.
[0038] When R¹¹ represents R³³R³⁴NCO-, examples of each of R³³ and R³⁴ are independently
a hydrogen atom, methyl, phenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 4-cyanophenyl, 3,4-dicyanophenyl,
3-methylphenyl, 2-cyanoethyl, benzyl, 2-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidyl, 2-chloro-5dodecyloxycarbonylphenyl,
2-chloro-5-hexadecylsulfonamidephenyl, 2-chloro-5-tetradecaneamidephenyl, 2-chloro-5-{4-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide}phenyl,
2-chloro-5-(2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide)phenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-5tetradecyloxycarbonylphenyl,
2-chloro-5-(1-ethoxycarbonylethoxycarbonyl)phenyl, 2-pyridyl, 2-chloro-5-octyloxycarbonylphenyl,
2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2-chloro-5-(1-dodecyloxycarbonylethoxycarbonyl)phenyl, 2-chlorophenyl,
and 2-ethoxyphenyl.
[0039] When R¹² have the same meaning as R³³ or is represented by -OR³³, examples of R³³
are methyl, ethyl, 2-ethylhexyl, 2-hexyldecyl, dodecyloxyethyl, phenyl, o-chlorophenyl,
4-[2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide]phenyl, 3-pyridyl, and 1-methylimidazole-2-yl.
[0040] When R¹² is represented by -NR³³R³⁴, examples of R³³ and R³⁴ are the same as those
enumerated above for R³³ and R³⁴ in the explanation of R¹¹.
[0041] Examples of R13 are 3-{2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide}benzamide, 3-{4-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide)benzamide,
a 2-chloro-5-tetradecaneamideaniline group, 5-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxyacetoamide)benzamide,
2-chloro-5-dodecenylsuccinimideanilino, 2-chloro-5-{2-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy)tetradecaneam
ide}anilino, 2,2-dimethylpropaneamide, 2-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)butaneamide, pyrrolidino,
and N,N-dibutylamino. Examples of R¹⁴ are 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2,5-dichlorophenyl,
2,3-dichlorophenyl, 2,6-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl, 4-{2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide}phenyl,
and 2,6-dichloro-4-methanesulfonylphenyl. Examples of R¹⁵ are methyl, ethyl, isopropyl,
methoxy, ethoxy, methylthio, ethylthio, 3-phenylureido, and 3-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)propyl.
Examples of R¹⁶ are 3-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)propyl, 3-[4-{2-[4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy]tetradecane
amidephenyl]propyl, methoxy, methylthio, ethylthio, methyl, 1-methyl-2-(2-octyloxy-5-[2-octyloxy-5-(1,1,3,3-tetrame
thylbutyl)phenylsulfonamide]phenylsulfonamide]ethyl, 3-{4-(4-dodecyloxyphenylsulfonamide)phenyl}propyl,
1,1-dimethyl-2-(2-octyloxy-5-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenylsulfonamide]ethyl, and
dodecylthio. Examples of R¹⁷ are 2-chlorophenyl, pentafluorophenyl, heptafluoropropyl,
1-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)propyl, 3-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)propyl, 2,4-di-t-amylmethyl,
and furyl. Examples of R¹⁸ are a chlorine atom, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl,
2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butaneamide, 2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)hexaneamide, 2-(2,4-di-t-octylphenoxy)octaneamide,
2-(2-chlorophenoxy)tetradecaneamide, 2-{4-(hydroxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy}tetradecaneamide,
and 2-{2-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxyacetoamide)phenoxy}butaneamide. Examples of R¹⁹ are
4-cyanophenyl, 2-cyanophenyl, 4-butylsulfonylphenyl, 4-propylsulfonylphenyl, 4-chloro-3-cyanophenyl,
4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl, and 3,4-dichlorophenyl. Examples of R²⁰ are dodecyl, hexadecyl,
cyclohexyl, 3-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)propyl, 4-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butyl, 3-dodecyloxypropyl,
t-butyl, 2-methoxy-5-dodecyloxycarbonylphenyl, and 1-naphthyl. Examples of R²¹ are
isobutyloxycarbonylamino, ethoxycarbonylamino, phenylsulfonylamino, methanesulfonamide,
benzamide, trifluoroacetoamide, 3-phenylureido, butoxycarbonylamide, and acetoamide.
[0042] X¹¹ to X¹⁴ will be described below. Each of X¹¹ to X¹⁴ independently represents a
coupling split-off group or a hydrogen atom. Preferable examples of X¹¹ to X¹⁴ will
be described below.
[0043] Preferable examples of X¹¹ are R³²O-, an imide group (e.g., 2,4-dioxo-1,3-imidazolidine-3-yl,
2,4-dioxo-1,3-oxazolidine-3-yl, 3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazolidine-4-yl, succinimide, futhalimide,
and 2,4-dioxo-1,3-imidazolidine-1-yl) which combines with a coupling position by a
nitrogen atom, an unsaturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group (e.g., 1-imidazolyl,
1-pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-triazole-2 (or 4)-yl, benzotriazole-1-yl, and 3-pyrazoline-5-one-1-yl)
which combines with a coupling position by a nitrogen atom, and R³¹S-.
[0044] Preferable examples of X¹² are R³¹S-, an unsaturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic
group (e.g., 1-pyrazolyl, 1-imidazolyl, 1,2,4-triazole-2 or 4)-yl, benzotriazole-1-yl,
benzoimidazolyl, and benzoindazolyl), and R³²O-.
[0045] Preferable examples of X¹³ are a halogen atom, R³¹S-, R³¹O-, R³¹CO₂-, and an unsaturated
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group (e.g., 1-pyrazolyl, 1-imidazolyl, and benzotriazole-1-yl)
which combines with a coupling position by a nitrogen atom.
[0046] Preferable examples of X¹⁴ are a halogen atom, R³¹O-, and R³¹S-.
[0047] When X¹¹, X¹², and X¹³ represent the heterocyclic groups, they may have substituents
at substitutable positions. Representative examples of the substituent are those enumerated
above for R³¹ when R³¹ represents a heterocyclic group.
[0048] Representative examples of X¹¹ to X¹⁴ will be described below.
[0049] Examples of X¹¹ are 1-benzyl-5-ethoxy-2,4-dioxo-1,3-imidazolidine-3-yl, 1-methyl-5-hexyloxy-2,4-dioxo-1,3-imidazolidine-3-yl,
1-phenyl-5-benzyl-2,4-dioxo-1,3-5-triazolidine-3-yl, 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-1,3-oxazolidine-3-yl,
1-pyrazolyl, 4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)imidazole-1-yl, 2-phenylcarbamoyl-1,3-imidazolyl-1-yl,
6-methylxanthine-1-yl, 4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy, 2-chloro-4-(2-chloro-4hydroxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy,
5-phenoxycarbonyl-1-benzotriazolyl, 4-carboxyphenoxy, and 4-(4-benzyloxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy.
[0050] Examples of X¹² are a hydrogen atom, 1-pyrazolyl, 3-chloro-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-2-yl,
5-phenoxycarbonyl-1-benzotriazolyl, 2-butoxy-5-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenylthio,
4-chloro-1-pyrazolyl, 4-{3-(2-decyl-4-methylphenoxyacetoxy)propyl}pyrazole-1-yl, dodecyloxycarbonylmethylthio,
1-phenyltetrazolyl-5-thio, and 4-dodecylsulfamoylphenoxy.
[0051] Examples of X¹³ are a chlorine atom, a hydrogen atom, 4-methylphenoxy, 4-cyanophenoxy,
2-butoxy-5-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenylthio, 1-pyrazolyl, and 2-(2-phenoxyethoxy)-5-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenylthio.
[0052] Examples of X¹⁴ are a chlorine atom, a hydrogen atom, 4-methoxyphenoxy, 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy,
2-carboxyethylthio, 2-(2-carboxyethylthio)ethoxy, 1-phenyltetrazolyl-5-thio, 1-ethyltetrazolyl-5-thio,
3-carboxypropoxy, 5-phenoxycarbonylbenzotriazole-1-methoxy, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-(1-phenyltetrazolyl-5-thio)-5-propylcarbamoylphenoxy,
2-(1-carboxytridecylthio)ethoxy, 2-(2-methoxyethylcarbamoyl)ethoxy, 2-(2-methoxyethylcarbamoyl)ethoxy,
and 2-{4-(8-acetoamide-1-hydroxy-3,6-disulfonaphthyl-2-azo) phenoxy}ethoxy:disodium
salt.
[0053] A compound represented by formula (I) of the present invention and a coupler for
use in the present invention can be polymers. That is, the compound or the coupler
may be a polymer which is derived from a monomer represented by formula (M-1) below
and has a repeating unit represented by formula (P-1), or a copolymer with at least
one type of a non-color-forming monomer which has no ability to couple with an oxidized
form of an aromatic primary amine developing agent and contains at least one ethylene
group. In this case, two or more types of a monomer represented by formula (M-1) may
be simultaneously polymerized.

wherein R⁴¹ represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
or a chlorine atom, A¹ represents -CONH-, -NHCONH-, -NHCO₂-, -CO₂-, SO₂-, -CO-, -NHCO-,
-SO₂NH-, -NHSO₂-, -OCO-, -OCONH-, -NH-, or -O-, A² represents -CONH- or -COO-, A³
represents a substituted or nonsubstituted alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
an aralkylene group, or a substituted or nonsubstituted arylene group. The alkylene
group may be straight-chain or branched.
[0054] (Examples of the alkylene group are methylene, methylmethylene, dimethylmethylene,
dimethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, hexamethylene, and decylmethylene,
an example of the aralkylene group is benzylidene, and examples of the arylene group
are phelene and naphthylene.)
[0055] Q represents a compound moiety or a coupler moiety represented by formula (I) or
(II) and may combine with any position of the substituents already described above
for these moieties.
[0056] Each of
i,
j, and
k represents 0 or 1, but
i,
j, and
k are not simultaneously 0.
[0057] Examples of a substituent for an alkylene group, an aralkylene group, or an arylene
group represented by A³ are an aryl group (e.g., phenyl and naphthyl), a nitro group,
a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group (e.g., methoxy), an
aryloxy group (e.g., phenoxy), an acyloxy group (e.g., acetoxy and benzoyloxy), an
acylamino group (e.g., acetylamino and benzoylamino), a sulfonamide group (e.g., methanesulfonamide),
a sulfamoyl group (e.g., methylsulfamoyl), a halogen atom (e.g., fluorine, chlorine,
and bromine), a carboxy group, a carbamoyl group (e.g., methylcarbamoyl), an alkoxycarbonyl
group (e.g., methoxycarbonyl), and a sulfonyl group (e.g., methanesulfonyl). When
two or more of these substituents are present, they may be the same or different.
[0058] Examples of the non-color-forming ethylene monomer which does not couple with an
oxidized form of an aromatic primary amine developing agent are acrylic acid, °-chloroacrylic
acid, °-alkylacrylic acid, esters or amides derived from these acrylic acids, methylenebisacrylamide,
vinylester, acrylonitrile, an aromatic vinyl compound, a maleic acid derivative, and
vinylpyridines. Two or more types of these non-color-forming ethylene unsaturated
monomers can be simultaneously used.
[0059] In formula (I), an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group,
and a heterocyclic group represented by R¹ and R² are same as an alkyl group, an alkenyl
group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group described above for
R³¹ to R³⁴. R¹ and R² may further have various substituents. Representative examples
of the substituents are those enumerated above as the substituents for R³¹ to R³⁴.
A and R¹, A and R², or R¹ and R² may couple with each other to form a ring.
[0060] In formula (I),
n represents an integer of 1 or more. When
n represents an integer of two or more, respective R¹'s and R²'s may be the same or
different. Most preferably,
n is 1.
[0061] In formula (I), -SO₂NHCONR¹R² preferably substitutes any position except for a position
on a carbon atom at a coupling position of the coupler moiety A, and may substitute
a dye forming portion, a split-off group portion, or both the portions of the coupler.
[0062] Practical examples of a compound represented by formula (I) will be presented in
Table A, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
[0063] Representative examples of a method of synthesizing the compound of the present invention
will be described below. Other compounds can be similarly synthesized.
Synthesis Example 1
Synthesis of exemplified compound (1)
[0064] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0065] 20.0 g of compound (A-1) and 14.6 g of compound (A-2) were mixed in 100 mℓ of acetonitrile,
and the mixture was cooled in an ice-water bath. 7.6 g of triethylamine were dropped
over 30 minutes, and the resultant material was cooled and stirred for two hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with diluted hydrochloric acid and water, and dried on magnesium
sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the solvent was distilled off,
a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was purified through a silica
gel column chromatography to obtain 21.3 g of exemplified compound (1) of interest
as a light yellow glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 2
Synthesis of exemplified compound (2)
[0066] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0067] 10.0 g of compound (A-3) and 7.5 g of compound (A-4) were mixed in 60 mℓ of acetonitrile,
and the mixture was cooled in an ice-water bath. 2.6 g of triethylamine were dropped
over 20 minutes, and the resultant material was cooled and stirred for one hour. The
reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with diluted hydrochloric acid and water, and dried on magnesium
sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the solvent was distilled off,
a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was purified through a silica
gel column chromatography to obtain 15.3 g of exemplified compound (2) of interest
as a light yellow glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 3
Synthesis of exemplified compound (5)
[0068] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0069] 15.0 g of compound (A-5), 6.0 g of compound (A-6), and 5.0 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for three hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 13.2 g of exemplified
compound (5) of interest as a light yellow oily product.
Synthesis Example 4
Synthesis of exemplified compound (8)
[0070] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0071] 5.7 g of compound (A-7), 2.3 g of compound (A-6), and 2.5 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 50 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for one hour.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 6.4 g of exemplified
compound (8) of interest as a colorless glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 5
Synthesis of exemplified compound (12)
[0072] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0073] 25.0 g of compound (A-8), 8.0 g of compound (A-6), and 7.0 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 200 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for three hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 24.2 g of exemplified
compound (12) of interest as a light yellow oily product.
Synthesis Example 6
Synthesis of exemplified compound (16)
[0074] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0075] 30.0 g of compound (A-9), 6.8 g of compound (A-10), and 12.0 g of potassium carbonate
were mixed in 200 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for three
hours. The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate.
The organic layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and
diluted hydrochloric acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was
filtered out and the solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The
resultant product was purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain
31.5 g of exemplified compound (16) of interest as a colorless glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 7
Synthesis of exemplified compound (22)
[0076] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0077] 15.5 g of compound (A-11), 13.0 g of compound (A-12), and 5.0 g of triethylamine
were mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for 1.5
hours. The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate.
The organic layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and
diluted hydrochloric acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was
filtered out and the solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The
resultant product was purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain
14.8 g of exemplified compound (22) of interest as a colorless glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 8
Synthesis of exemplified compound (24)
[0078] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0079] 8.0 g of compound (A-13), 5.7 g of compound (A-14), and 2.7 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for two hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 9.5 g of exemplified
compound (24) of interest as a colorless glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 9
Synthesis of exemplified compound (28)
[0080] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0081] 10.0 g of compound (A-15), 6.6 g of compound (A-14), and 3.1 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for one hour.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 11.2 g of exemplified
compound (28) of interest as a light yellow oily product.
Synthesis Example 10
Synthesis of exemplified compound (30)
[0082] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0083] 5.5 g of compound (A-16), 4.6 g of compound (A-17), and 2.0 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 50 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for one hour.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 6.2 g of exemplified
compound (30) of interest as a light yellow oily product.
Synthesis Example 11
Synthesis of exemplified compound (32)
[0084] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0085] 12.1 g of compound (A-18), 8.6 g of compound (A-19), and 3.5 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for two hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 13.4 g of exemplified
compound (32) of interest as a light yellow glassy solid.
Synthesis Example 12
Synthesis of exemplified compound (36)
[0086] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0087] 18.0 g of compound (A-20), 5.3 g of compound (A-6), and 4.5 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 200 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for three hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 17.6 g of exemplified
compound (36) of interest as a yellow oily product.
Synthesis Example 13
Synthesis of exemplified compound (38)
[0088] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0089] 7.3 g of compound (A-21), 5.2 g of compound (A-22), and 2.5 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for two hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 8.1 g of exemplified
compound (38) of interest as a colorless oily product.
Synthesis Example 14
Synthesis of exemplified compound (43)
[0090] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0091] 13.2 g of compound (A-23), 10.6 g of compound (A-19), and 4.4 g of triethylamine
were mixed in 100 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for 2.5
hours. The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate.
The organic layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and
diluted hydrochloric acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was
filtered out and the solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The
resultant product was purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain
14.4 g of exemplified compound (43) of interest as a colorless glassy product.
Synthesis Example 15
Synthesis of exemplified compound (44)
[0092] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0093] 15.3 g of compound (A-24), 13.0 g of compound (A-25), and 5.1 g of triethylamine
were mixed in 200 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for three
hours. The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate.
The organic layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and
diluted hydrochloric acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was
filtered out and the solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The
resultant product was purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain
15.5 g of exemplified compound (44) of interest as a colorless oily product.
Synthesis Example 16
Synthesis of exemplified compound (46)
[0094] The compound was synthesized by the following synthesis route.

[0095] 5.7 g of compound (A-26), 3.7 g of compound (A-14), and 1.70 g of triethylamine were
mixed in 60 mℓ of N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was stirred for two hours.
The reaction mixture was placed in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
layer was washed with water, a 3% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and diluted hydrochloric
acid, and dried on magnesium sulfate. When the drying agent was filtered out and the
solvent was distilled off, a yellow oily product resulted. The resultant product was
purified through a silica gel column chromatography to obtain 6.3 g of exemplified
compound (46) of interest as a colorless glassy solid.
[0096] Although the addition amount of the compound of the present invention depends on
the structure and the application of the compound, it is preferably 1 x 10⁻⁷ to 1.0
mol, and most preferably 1 x 10⁻⁶ to 0.5 mol per mol of silver present in the same
or adjacent layer.
[0097] The addition amount of a high-boiling point organic solvent to be added to a coupler-containing
layer of the present invention is, in weight ratio, 10 to 0, preferably 2 or less,
and most preferably 0.7 or less with respect to the total amount of couplers contained
in the coupler-containing layer.
[0098] Couplers of the present invention may be used singly in a given layer, or two or
more types of the couplers may be mixed. In addition, these couplers may be mixed
in conventionally known couplers.
[0099] The light-sensitive material of the present invention need only have at least one
of silver halide emulsion layers, i.e., a blue-sensitive layer, a green-sensitive
layer, and a red-sensitive layer formed on a support. The number or order of the silver
halide emulsion layers and the non-light-sensitive layers are particularly not limited.
A typical example is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having,
on a support, at least one light-sensitive layers constituted by a plurality of silver
halide emulsion layers which are sensitive to essentially the same color sensitivity
but has different speed. In a multilayered silver halide color photographic light-sensitive
material, the light-sensitive layers are unit light-sensitive layer sensitive to blue,
green or red. The unit light-sensitive layers are generally arranged such that red-,
green-, and blue-sensitive layers are formed from a support side in the order named.
However, this order may be reversed or a layer sensitive to one color may be sandwiched
between layers sensitive to another color in accordance with the application.
[0100] Non-light-sensitive layers such as various types of interlayers may be formed between
the silver halide light-sensitive layers and as the uppermost layer and the lowermost
layer.
[0101] The interlayer may contain, e.g., couplers and DIR compounds as described in JP-A-61-43748,
JP-A-59-113438, JP-A-59-113440, JP-A-61-20037, and JP-A-61-20038 or a color mixing
inhibitor which is normally used.
[0102] As a plurality of silver halide emulsion layers constituting each unit light-sensitive
layer, a two-layered structure of high- and low-sensitivity emulsion layers can be
preferably used as described in West German Patent 1,121,470 or British Patent 923,045.
In this case, layers are preferably arranged such that the sensitivity is sequentially
decreased toward a support, and a non-light-sensitive layer may be formed between
the silver halide emulsion layers. In addition, as described in JP-A-57-112751, JP-A-62-200350,
JP-A-62-206541, and JP-A-62-206543, layers may be arranged such that a low-sensitivity
emulsion layer is formed remotely from a support and a high-sensitivity layer is formed
close to the support.
[0103] More specifically, layers may be arranged from the farthest side from a support in
an order of low-sensitivity blue-sensitive layer (BL)/high-sensitivity blue-sensitive
layer (BH)/high-sensitivity green-sensitive layer (GH)/low-sensitivity green-sensitive
layer (GL)/high-sensitivity red-sensitive layer (RH)/low-sensitivity red-sensitive
layer (RL), an order of BH/BL/GL/GH/RH/RL, or an order of BH/BL/GH/GL/RL/RH.
[0104] In addition, as described in JP-B-55-34932, layers may be arranged from the farthest
side from a support in an order of blue-sensitive layer/GH/RH/GL/RL. Furthermore,
as described in JP-B-56-25738 and JP-B-62-63936, layers may be arranged from the farthest
side from a support in an order of blue-sensitive layer/GL/RL/GH/RH.
[0105] As described in JP-B-49-15495, three layers may be arranged such that a silver halide
emulsion layer having the highest sensitivity is arranged as an upper layer, a silver
halide emulsion layer having sensitivity lower than that of the upper layer is arranged
as an interlayer, and a silver halide emulsion layer having sensitivity lower than
that of the interlayer is arranged as a lower layer, i.e., three layers having different
sensitivities may be arranged such that the sensitivity is sequentially decreased
toward the support. When a layer structure is constituted by three layers having different
sensitivities, these layers may be arranged in an order of medium-sensitivity emulsion
layer/high-sensitivity emulsion layer/low-sensitivity emulsion layer from the farthest
side from a support in a layer sensitive to one color as described in JP-A-59-202464.
[0106] In addition, an order of high-sensitivity emulsion layer/low-sensitivity emulsion
layer/medium-sensitivity emulsion layer or low-sensitivity emulsion layer/medium-sensitivity
emulsion layer/high-sensitivity emulsion layer may be adopted.
[0107] Furthermore, the arrangement can be changed as described above even when four or
more layers are formed.
[0108] In order to improve color reproducibility, a donor layer (CL) with an interlayer
effect, which has a spectral sensitivity distribution different from those of main
light-sensitive layers such as BL, GL, and RL, is preferably arranged adjacent to
or close to the main light-sensitive layers, as described in U.S. Patents 4,663,271,
4,705,744, and 4,707,436, JP-A-62-160448, and JP-A-63-89580.
[0109] As described above, it is possible to select various layer arrangements and orders
in accordance with applications of the light-sensitive material.
[0110] A preferable silver halide contained in photographic emulsion layers of the photographic
light-sensitive material of the present invention is silver iodobromide, silver iodochloride,
or silver iodochlorobromide containing about 30 mol% or less of silver iodide. The
most preferable silver halide is silver iodobromide or silver iodochlorobromide containing
about 2 mol% to about 10 mol% of silver iodide.
[0111] Silver halide grains contained in the photographic emulsion may have regular crystals
such as cubic, octahedral, or tetradecahedral crystals, irregular crystals such as
spherical or tabular crystals, crystals having crystal defects such as twinned crystal
faces, or composite shapes thereof.
[0112] The silver halide may consist of fine grains having a grain size of about 0.2 µm
or less or large grains having a projected area diameter of about 10 µm, and the emulsion
may be either a polydisperse or monodisperse emulsion.
[0113] The silver halide photographic emulsion which can be used in the present invention
can be prepared by methods described in, for example, Research Disclosure (RD) No.
17,643 (December, 1978), pp. 22 to 23, "I. Emulsion preparation and types", RD No.
18,716 (November, 1979), page 648, and RD No. 307,105 (November, 1989), pp. 863 to
865; P. Glafkides, "Chemie et Phisique Photographique", Paul Montel, 1967; G.F. Duffin,
"Photographic Emulsion Chemistry", Focal Press, 1966; and V.L. Zelikman et al., "Making
and Coating Photographic Emulsion", Focal Press, 1964.
[0114] Monodisperse emulsions described in, for example, U.S. Patents 3,574,628 and 3,655,394
and British Patent 1,413,748 are also preferred.
[0115] Also, tabular grains having an aspect ratio of about 3 or more can be used in the
present invention. The tabular grains can be easily prepared by methods described
in, e.g., Gutoff, "Photographic Science and Engineering", Vol. 14, PP. 248 to 257
(1970); U.S. Patents 4,434,226, 4,414,310, 4,433,048, and 4,499,520, and British Patent
2,112,157.
[0116] The crystal structure may be uniform, may have different halogen compositions in
the interior and the surface layer thereof, or may be a layered structure. Alternatively,
a silver halide having a different composition may be bonded by an epitaxial junction
or a compound except for a silver halide such as silver rhodanide or zinc oxide may
be bonded. A mixture of grains having various types of crystal shapes may be used.
[0117] The above emulsion may be of any of a surface latent image type in which a latent
image is mainly formed on the surface of each grain, an internal latent image type
in which a latent image is formed in the interior of each grain, and a type in which
a latent image is formed on the surface and in the interior of each grain. However,
the emulsion must be of a negative type. When the emulsion is of an internal latent
image type, it may be a core/shell internal latent image type emulsion described in
JP-A-63-264740. A method of preparing this core/shell internal latent image type emulsion
is described in JP-A-59-133542. Although the thickness of a shell of this emulsion
changes in accordance with development or the like, it is preferably 3 to 40 nm, and
most preferably, 5 to 20 nm.
[0118] A silver halide emulsion is normally subjected to physical ripening, chemical ripening,
and spectral sensitization steps before it is used. Additives for use in these steps
are described in Research Disclosure Nos. 17,643, 18,716, and 307,105 and they are
summarized in the following table.
[0119] In the light-sensitive material of the present invention, two or more types of emulsions
different in at least one characteristic of a grain size, a grain size distribution,
a halogen composition, a grain shape, and sensitivity can be mixed in one layer.
[0120] A surface-fogged silver halide grain described in U.S. Patent 4,082,553, an internally
fogged silver halide grain described in U.S. Patent 4,626,498 or JP-A-59-214852, and
colloidal silver can be preferably used in a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion
layer and/or a substantially non-light-sensitive hydrophilic colloid layer. The internally
fogged or surface-fogged silver halide grains are silver halide grains which can be
uniformly (non-imagewise) developed in either a non-exposed portion or an exposed
portion of the light-sensitive material. A method of preparing the internally fogged
or surface-fogged silver halide grain is described in U.S. Patent 4,626,498 or JP-A-59-214852.
[0121] A silver halide which forms the core of an internally fogged core/shell type silver
halide grain may have the same halogen composition as or a different halogen composition
from that of the other portion. Examples of the internally fogged or surface-fogged
silver halide are silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver iodobromide, and silver
chloroiodobromide. Although the grain size of these fogged silver halide grains is
not particularly limited, an average grain size is 0.01 to 0.75 µm, and most preferably,
0.05 to 0.6 µm. The grain shape is also not particularly limited but may be a regular
grain shape. Although the emulsion may be a polydisperse emulsion, it is preferably
a monodisperse emulsion (in which at least 95% in weight or number of silver halide
grains have a grain size falling within the range of ±40% of an average grain size).
[0122] In the present invention, a non-light-sensitive fine grain silver halide is preferably
used. The non-light-sensitive fine grain silver halide means silver halide fine grains
not sensitive upon imagewise exposure for obtaining a dye image and essentially not
developed in development. The non-light-sensitive fine grain silver halide is preferably
not fogged beforehand.
[0123] The fine grain silver halide contains 0 to 100 mol% of silver bromide and may contain
silver chloride and/or silver iodide as needed. Preferably, the fine grain silver
halide contains 0.5 to 10 mol% of silver iodide.
[0124] An average grain size (an average value of equivalent-circle diameters of projected
areas) of the fine grain silver halide is preferably 0.01 to 0.5 µm, and more preferably,
0.02 to 0.2 µm.
[0125] The fine grain silver halide can be prepared by a method similar to a method of preparing
normal light-sensitive material silver halide. In this preparation, the surface of
a silver halide grain need not be subjected to either chemical sensitization or spectral
sensitization. However, before the silver halide grains are added to a coating solution,
a known stabilizer such as a triazole compound, an azaindene compound, a benzothiazolium
compound, a mercapto compound, or a zinc compound is preferably added. This fine grain
silver halide grain containing layer preferably contains a colloidal silver.
[0126] A coating silver amount of the light-sensitive material of the present invention
is preferably 6.0 g/m² or less, and most preferably, 4.5 g/m² or less.
[0127] Known photographic additives usable in the present invention are also described in
the above three RDs, and they are summarized in the following Table I.

[0128] In order to prevent degradation in photographic properties caused by formaldehyde
gas, a compound which can react with and fix formaldehyde described in U.S. Patent
4,411,987 or 4,435,503 is preferably added to the light-sensitive material.
[0129] The light-sensitive material of the present invention preferably contains mercapto
compounds described in U.S. Patents 4,740,454 and 4,788,132, JP-A-62-18539, and JP-A-1-283551.
[0130] The light-sensitive material of the present invention preferably contains compounds
for releasing a fogging agent, a development accelerator, a silver halide solvent,
or precursors thereof described in JP-A-1-106052 regardless of a developed silver
amount produced by the development.
[0131] The light-sensitive material of the present invention preferably contains dyes dispersed
by methods described in WO 88/04794 and JP-A-1-502912 or dyes described in EP 317,308A,
U.S. Patent 4,420,555, and JP-A-1-259358.
[0132] Various color couplers can be used in the present invention, and specific examples
of these couplers are described in patents described in above-mentioned Research Disclosure
(RD), No. 17643, VII-C to VII-G and RD No. 307105, VII-C to VII-G.
[0133] Preferred examples of a yellow coupler are described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 3,933,501,
4,022,620, 4,326,024, 4,401,752, and 4,248,961, JP-B-58-10739, British Patents 1,425,020
and 1,476,760, U.S. Patents 3,973,968, 4,314,023, and 4,511,649, and EP 249,473A.
[0134] Examples of a magenta coupler are preferably 5-pyrazolone and pyrazoloazole compounds,
and more preferably, compounds described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,310,619 and 4,351,897,
EP 73,636, U.S. Patents 3,061,432 and 3,725,067, Research Disclosure No. 24220 (June
1984), JP-A-60-33552, Research Disclosure No. 24230 (June 1984), JP-A-60-43659, JP-A-61-72238,
JP-A-60-35730, JP-A-55-118034, and JP-A-60-185951, U.S. Patents 4,500,630, 4,540,654,
and 4,565,630, and WO No. 88/04795.
[0135] Examples of a cyan coupler are phenol and naphthol couplers, and preferably, those
described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,052,212, 4,146,396, 4,228,233, 4,296,200, 2,369,929,
2,801,171, 2,772,162, 2,895,826, 3,772,002, 3,758,308, 4,343,011, and 4,327,173, EP
Disclosure 3,329,729, EP 121,365A and 249,453A, U.S. Patents 3,446,622, 4,333,999,
4,775,616, 4,451,559, 4,427,767, 4,690,889, 4,254,212, and 4,296,199, and JP-A-61-42658.
[0136] In addition, it is possible to use pyrazoloazole-based couplers described in JP-A-64-553,
JP-A-64-554, JP-A-64-555, and JP-A-64-556, and an imidazole-based coupler described
in U.S. Patent 4,818,672.
[0137] Typical examples of a polymerized dye-forming coupler are described in U.S. Patents
3,451,820, 4,080,221, 4,367,282, 4,409,320, and 4,576,910, British Patent 2,102,173,
and EP 341,188A.
[0138] Preferable examples of a coupler capable of forming colored dyes having proper diffusibility
are those described in U.S. Patent 4,366,237, British Patent 2,125,570, EP 96,570,
and West German Patent Application (OLS) No. 3,234,533.
[0139] Preferable examples of a colored coupler for correcting additional, undesirable absorption
of a colored dye are those described in Research Disclosure No. 17643, VII-G, U.S.
Patent 4,163,670, JP-B-57-39413, U.S. Patents 4,004,929 and 4,138,258, and British
Patent 1,146,368. A coupler for correcting unnecessary absorption of a colored dye
by a fluorescent dye released upon coupling described in U.S. Patent 4,774,181 or
a coupler having a dye precursor group which can react with a developing agent to
form a dye as a split-off group described in U.S. Patent 4,777,120 may be preferably
used.
[0140] Couplers releasing a photographically useful residue upon coupling are preferably
used in the present invention. DIR couplers, i.e., couplers releasing a development
inhibitor are described in the patents cited in the above-described RD No. 17643,
VII-F, RD No. 307105, VII-F, JP-A-57-151944, JP-A-57-154234, JP-A-60-184248, JP-A-63-37346,
JP-A-63-37350, and U.S. Patents 4,248,962 and 4,782,012.
[0141] Bleaching accelerator releasing couplers described in, e.g., RD Nos. 11449 and 24241
and JP-A-61-201247 can be effectively used to reduce a time required for a treatment
having a bleaching function. This effect is remarkable especially when the coupler
is added to a light-sensitive material using the tabular silver halide grains described
above.
[0142] Preferable examples of a coupler for imagewise releasing a nucleating agent or a
development accelerator, at the developing stage, are described in British Patents
2,097,140 and 2,131,188, JP-A-59-157638, and JP-A-59-170840. In addition, compounds
for releasing a fogging agent, a development accelerator, or a silver halide solvent
upon redox reaction with an oxidized form of a developing agent, described in JP-A-60-107029,
JP-A-60-252340, JP-A-1-44940, and JP-A-1-45687, can also be preferably used.
[0143] Examples of a coupler which can be used in the light-sensitive material of the present
invention are competing couplers described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,130,427; poly-equivalent
couplers described in, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,283,472, 4,338,393, and 4,310,618; a DIR
redox compound releasing coupler, a DIR coupler releasing coupler, a DIR coupler releasing
redox compound, or a DIR redox releasing redox compound described in, e.g., JP-A-60-185950
and JP-A-62-24252; couplers releasing a dye which turns to a colored form after being
released described in EP 173,302A and 313,308A; a legend releasing coupler described
in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,553,477; a coupler releasing a leuco dye described in JP-A-63-75747;
and a coupler releasing a fluorescent dye described in U.S. Patent 4,774,181.
[0144] The couplers for use in this invention can be added to the light-sensitive material
by various known dispersion methods.
[0145] Examples of a high-boiling organic solvent to be used in the oil-in-water dispersion
method are described in e.g. USP 2,322,027. Examples of a high-boiling organic solvent
to be used in the oil-in-water dispersion method and having a boiling point of 175°C
or more at atmospheric pressure are phthalic esters (e.g., dibutylphthalate, dicyclohexylphthalate,
di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, decylphthalate, bis(2,4-di-t-amylphenyl)phthalate, bis(2,4-di-t-amylphenyl)isophthalate,
bis(1,1-di-ethylpropyl)phthalate), phosphates or phosphonates (e.g., triphenylphosphate,
tricresylphosphate, 2-ethylhexyldiphenylphosphate, tricyclohexylphosphate, tri-2-ethylhexylphosphate,
tridodecylphosphate, tributoxyethylphosphate, trichloropropylphosphate, and di-2-ethylhexylphenylphosphonate),
benzoates (e.g., 2-ethylhexylbenzoate, dodecylbenzoate, and 2-ethylhexyl-p-hydroxybenzoate),
amides (e.g., N,N-diethyldodecaneamide, N,N-diethyllaurylamide, and N-tetradecylpyrrolidone),
alcohols or phenols (e.g., isostearylalcohol and 2,4-di-tert-amylphenol), aliphatic
carboxylates (e.g., bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate, dioctylazelate, glyceroltributylate,
isostearyllactate, and trioctylcitrate), an aniline derivative (e.g., N,N-dibutyl-2-butoxy-5-tert-octylaniline),
and hydrocarbons (e.g., paraffin, dodecylbenzene, and diisopropylnaphthalene). An
organic solvent having a boiling point of about 30°C or more, and preferably, 50°C
to about 160°C can be used as a co-solvent. Typical examples of the co-solvent are
ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl propionate, methylethylketone, cyclohexanone,
2-ethoxyethylacetate, and dimethylformamide.
[0146] Steps and effects of a latex dispersion method and examples of a loadable latex are
described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,199,363 and West German Patent Application (OLS)
Nos. 2,541,274 and 2,541,230.
[0147] Various types of an antiseptic agent or a mildewproofing agent are preferably added
to the color light-sensitive material of the present invention. Examples of the antiseptic
agent and the mildewproofing agent are 1,2-benzisothiazoline-3-one, n-butyl-p-hydroxybenzoate,
phenol, 4-chloro-3.5-dimethylphenol, 2-phenoxyethanol, and 2-(4-thiazolyl)benzimidazole
described in JP-A-63-257747, JP-A-62-272248, and JP-A-1-80941.
[0148] The present invention can be applied to various color light-sensitive materials.
Examples of the material are a color negative film for a general purpose or a movie,
a color reversal film for a slide or a television, color paper, a color positive film,
and color reversal paper.
[0149] A support which can be suitably used in the present invention is described in, e.g.,
RD. No. 17643, page 28, RD. No. 18716, from the right column, page 647 to the left
column, page 648, and RD. No. 307105, page 879.
[0150] In the light-sensitive material using the photographic emulsion of the present invention,
the sum total of film thicknesses of all hydrophilic colloidal layers at the side
having emulsion layers is preferably 28 µm or less, more preferably, 23 µm or less,
much more preferably, 18 µm or less, and most preferably, 16 µm or less. A film swell
speed T
1/2 is preferably 30 sec. or less, and more preferably, 20 sec. or less. The film thickness
means a film thickness measured under moisture conditioning at a temperature of 25°C
and a relative humidity of 55% (two days). The film swell speed T
1/2 can be measured in accordance with a known method in the art. For example, the film
swell speed T
1/2 can be measured by using a swell meter described in Photographic Science & Engineering,
A. Green et al., Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 124 to 129. When 90% of a maximum swell film
thickness reached by performing a treatment by using a color developing agent at 30°C
for 3 min. and 15 sec. is defined as a saturated film thickness, T
1/2 is defined as a time required for reaching 1/2 of the saturated film thickness.
[0151] The film swell speed T
1/2 can be adjusted by adding a film hardening agent to gelatin as a binder or changing
aging conditions after coating. A swell ratio is preferably 150% to 400%. The swell
ratio is calculated from the maximum swell film thickness measured under the above
conditions in accordance with a relation : (maximum swell film thickness - film thickness)/film
thickness.
[0152] In the light-sensitive material of the present invention, hydrophilic colloid layers
(called back layers) having a total dried film thickness of 2 to 20 µm are preferably
formed on the side opposite to the side having emulsion layers. The back layers preferably
contain, e.g., the light absorbent, the filter dye, the ultraviolet absorbent, the
antistatic agent, the film hardener, the binder, the plasticizer, the lubricant, the
coating aid, and the surfactant described above. The swell ratio of the back layers
is preferably 150% to 500%.
[0153] The color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention
can be developed by conventional methods described in RD. No. 17643, pp. 28 and 29,
RD. No. 18716, the left to right columns, page 615, and RD. No. 307105, pp. 880 and
881.
[0154] A color developer used in development of the light-sensitive material of the present
invention is an aqueous alkaline solution containing as a main component, preferably,
an aromatic primary amine-based color developing agent. As the color developing agent,
although an aminophenol-based compound is effective, a p-phenylenediamine-based compound
is preferably used. Typical examples of the p-phenylenediamine-based compound are
3-methyl-4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylaniline,
3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-methanesulfonamidoethylani line, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-methoxyethylaniline,
and sulfates, hydrochlorides and p-toluenesulfonates thereof. Of these compounds,
3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylaniline sulfate is most preferred. These
compounds can be used in a combination of two or more thereof in accordance with the
application.
[0155] In general, the color developer contains a pH buffering agent such as a carbonate,
a borate, or a phosphate of an alkali metal, and a development restrainer or an antifoggant
such as a bromide, an iodide, a benzimidazole, a benzothiazole, or a mercapto compound.
If necessary, the color developer may also contain a preservative such as hydroxylamine,
diethylhydroxylamine, a hydrazine sulfite, a phenylsemicarbazide, triethanolamine,
or a catechol sulfonic acid; an organic solvent such as ethyleneglycol or diethyleneglycol;
a development accelerator such as benzylalcohol, polyethyleneglycol, a quaternary
ammonium salt or an amine; a dye forming coupler; a competing coupler; a fogging agent
such as sodium boron hydride; an auxiliary developing agent such as 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone;
a viscosity imparting agent; and a chelating agent such as aminopolycarboxylic acid,
an aminopolyphosphonic acid, an alkylphosphonic acid, or a phosphonocarboxylic acid.
Examples of the chelating agent are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic
acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic
acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilo-N,N,N-trimethylenephosphonic
acid, ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylenephosphonic acid, and ethylenediamine-di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic
acid), and salts thereof.
[0156] In order to perform reversal development, black-and-white development is performed
and then color development is performed. As a black-and-white developer, well-known
black-and-white developing agents, e.g., a dihydroxybenzene such as hydroquinone,
a 3-pyrazolidone such as 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, and an aminophenol such as N-methyl-p-aminophenol
can be singly or in a combination of two or more thereof.
[0157] The pH of the color and black-and-white developers is generally 9 to 12. Although
a replenishment amount of the developer depends on a color photographic light-sensitive
material to be processed, it is generally 3 liters or less per m² of the light-sensitive
material. The replenishment amount can be decreased to be 500 mℓ or less by decreasing
a bromide ion concentration in a replenishing solution. In order to decrease the replenishment
amount, a contact area of a processing tank with air is preferably decreased to prevent
evaporation and oxidation of the solution upon contact with air. The replenishment
amount can be decreased by using a means capable of suppressing an accumulation amount
of bromide ions in the developer.
[0158] A contact area of a photographic processing solution with air in a processing tank
can be represented by an aperture defined below:

[0159] The above aperture is preferably 0.1 or less, and more preferably, 0.001 to 0.05.
In order to reduce the aperture, a shielding member such as a floating cover may be
provided on the liquid surface of the photographic processing solution in the processing
tank. In addition, a method of using a movable cover described in JP-A-1-82033 or
a slit developing method described in JP-A-63-216050 may be used. The aperture is
preferably reduced not only in color and black-and-white development steps but also
in all subsequent steps, e.g., bleaching, bleach-fixing, fixing, washing, and stabilizing
steps. In addition, a replenishing amount can be reduced by using a means of suppressing
storage of bromide ions in the developing solution.
[0160] A color development time is normally two to five minutes. The processing time, however,
can be shortened by setting a high temperature and a high pH and using the color developing
agent at a high concentration.
[0161] The photographic emulsion layer is generally subjected to bleaching after color development.
The bleaching may be performed either simultaneously with fixing (bleach-fixing) or
independently thereof. In addition, in order to increase a processing speed, bleach-fixing
may be performed after bleaching. Also, processing may be performed in a bleach-fixing
bath having two continuous tanks, fixing may be performed before bleach-fixing, or
bleaching may be performed after bleach-fixing, in accordance with the application.
Examples of the bleaching agent are a compound of a multivalent metal such as iron(III),
peroxides; quinones; and a nitro compound. Typical examples of the bleaching agent
are an organic complex salt of iron(III), e.g., a complex salt of an aminopolycarboxylic
acid such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid,
cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, and 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic
acid, and glycoletherdiaminetetraacetic acid; or a complex salt of citric acid, tartaric
acid, or malic acid. Of these compounds, an iron(III) complex salt of aminopolycarboxylic
acid such as an iron(III) complex salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic
acid is preferred because it can increase a processing speed and prevent an environmental
contamination. The iron(III) complex salt of aminopolycarboxylic acid is useful in
both the bleaching and bleach-fixing solutions. The pH of the bleaching or bleach-fixing
solution using the iron(III) complex salt of aminopolycarboxylic acid is normally
4.0 to 8. In order to increase the processing speed, however, processing can be performed
at a lower pH.
[0162] A bleaching accelerator can be used in the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing
solution, and their pre-bath, if necessary. Useful examples of the bleaching accelerator
are: compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide group described in, e.g., U.S.
Patent 3,893,858, West German Patents 1,290,812 and 2,059,988, JP-A-53-32736, JP-A-53-57831,
JP-A-53-37418, JP-A-53-72623, JP-A-53-95630, JP-53-95631, JP-A-53-104232, JP-A-53-124424,
and JP-A-53-141623, and JP-A-53-28426, and Research Disclosure No. 17,129 (July, 1978);
a thiazolidine derivative described in JP-A-50-140129; thioarea derivative described
in JP-B-45-8506, JP-A-52-20832, JP-A-53-32735, and U.S. Patent 3,706,561; a iodide
salt described in West German Patents 1,127,715 and JP-A-58-16235; polyoxyethylene
compounds descried in West German Patents 977,410 and 2,748,430; a polyamine compound
described in JP-B-45-8836; compounds descried in JP-A-49-40943, JP-A-49-59644, JP-A-53-94927,
JP-A-54-35727, JP-A-55-26506, and JP-A-58-163940; and a bromide ion. Of these compounds,
a compound having a mercapto group or a disulfide group is preferable since the compound
has a large accelerating effect. In particular, compounds described in U.S. Patent
3,893,858, West German Patent 1,290,812, and JP-A-53-95630 are preferred. A compound
described in U.S. Patent 4,552,834 is also preferable. These bleaching accelerators
may be added in the light-sensitive material. These bleaching accelerators are useful
especially in bleach-fixing of a photographic color light-sensitive material.
[0163] The bleaching solution or the bleach-fixing solution preferably contains, in addition
to the above compounds, an organic acid in order to prevent a bleaching stain. The
most preferable organic acid is a compound having an acid dissociation constant (pKa)
of 2 to 5, e.g., acetic acid or propionic acid.
[0164] Examples of the fixing agent are thiosulfate, a thiocyanate, a thioether-based compound,
a thiourea and a large amount of an iodide. Of these compounds, a thiosulfate, especially,
ammonium thiosulfate can be used in the widest range of applications. In addition,
a combination of thiosulfate and a thiocyanate, a thioether-based compound, or thiourea
is preferably used. As a preservative of the bleach-fixing solution, a sulfite, a
bisulfite, a carbonyl bisulfite adduct, or a sulfinic acid compound described in EP
294,769A is preferred. In addition, in order to stabilize the fixing solution or the
bleach-fixing solution, various types of aminopolycarboxylic acids or organic phosphonic
acids are preferably added to the solution.
[0165] In the present invention, 0.1 to 10 mol/ℓ of a compound having a pKa of 6.0 to 9.0
are preferably added to the fixing solution or the bleach-fixing solution in order
to adjust the pH. Preferable examples of the compound are imidazoles such as imidazole,
1-methylimidazole, 1-ethylimidazole, and 2-methylimidazole.
[0166] The total time of a desilvering step is preferably as short as possible as long as
no desilvering defect occurs. A preferable time is one to three minutes, and more
preferably, one to two minutes. A processing temperature is 25°C to 50°C, and preferably,
35°C to 45°C. Within the preferable temperature range, a desilvering speed is increased,
and generation of a stain after the processing can be effectively prevented.
[0167] In the desilvering step, stirring is preferably as strong as possible. Examples of
a method of strengthening the stirring are a method of colliding a jet stream of the
processing solution against the emulsion surface of the light-sensitive material described
in JP-A-62-183460, a method of increasing the stirring effect using rotating means
described in JP-A-62-183461, a method of moving the light-sensitive material while
the emulsion surface is brought into contact with a wiper blade provided in the solution
to cause disturbance on the emulsion surface, thereby improving the stirring effect,
and a method of increasing the circulating flow amount in the overall processing solution.
Such a stirring improving means is effective in any of the bleaching solution, the
bleach-fixing solution, and the fixing solution. It is assumed that the improvement
in stirring increases the speed of supply of the bleaching agent and the fixing agent
into the emulsion film to lead to an increase in desilvering speed. The above stirring
improving means is more effective when the bleaching accelerator is used, i.e., significantly
increases the accelerating speed or eliminates fixing interference caused by the bleaching
accelerator.
[0168] An automatic developing machine for processing the light-sensitive material of the
present invention preferably has a light-sensitive material conveyor means described
in JP-A-60-191257, JP-A-191258, or JP-A-60-191259. As described in JP-A-60-191257,
this conveyor means can significantly reduce carry-over of a processing solution from
a pre-bath to a post-bath, thereby effectively preventing degradation in performance
of the processing solution. This effect significantly shortens especially a processing
time in each processing step and reduces a processing solution replenishing amount.
[0169] The photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention is normally subjected
to washing and/or stabilizing steps after desilvering. An amount of water used in
the washing step can be arbitrarily determined over a broad range in accordance with
the properties (e.g., a property determined by use of a coupler) of the light-sensitive
material, the application of the material, the temperature of the water, the number
of water tanks (the number of stages), a replenishing scheme representing a counter
or forward current, and other conditions. The relationship between the amount of water
and the number of water tanks in a multi-stage counter-current scheme can be obtained
by a method described in "Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television
Engineering", Vol. 64, PP. 248 - 253 (May, 1955).
[0170] According to the above-described multi-stage counter-current scheme, the amount of
water used for washing can be greatly decreased. Since washing water stays in the
tanks for a long period of time, however, bacteria multiply and floating substances
may be undesirably attached to the light-sensitive material. In order to solve this
problem in the process of the color photographic light-sensitive material of the present
invention, a method of decreasing calcium and magnesium ions can be effectively utilized,
as described in JP-A-62-288838. In addition, a germicide such as an isothiazolone
compound and cyabendazole described in JP-A-57-8542, a chlorine-based germicide such
as chlorinated sodium isocyanurate, and germicides such as benzotriazole described
in Hiroshi Horiguchi et al., "Chemistry of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents", (1986),
Sankyo Shuppan, Eiseigijutsu-Kai ed., "Sterilization, Antibacterial, and Antifungal
Techniques for Microorganisms", (1982), Kogyogijutsu-Kai, and Nippon Bokin Bokabi
Gakkai ed., "Dictionary of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents", (1986), can be used.
[0171] The pH of the water for washing the photographic light-sensitive material of the
present invention is 4 to 9, and preferably, 5 to 8. The water temperature and the
washing time can vary in accordance with the properties and applications of the light-sensitive
material. Normally, the washing time is 20 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature
of 15°C to 45°C, and preferably, 30 seconds to 5 minutes at 25°C to 40°C. The light-sensitive
material of the present invention can be processed directly by a stabilizing agent
in place of washing. All known methods described in JP-A-57-8543, JP-A-58-14834, and
JP-A-60-220345 can be used in such stabilizing processing.
[0172] Stabilizing is sometimes performed subsequently to washing. An example is a stabilizing
bath containing a dye stabilizing agent and a surface-active agent to be used as a
final bath of the photographic color light-sensitive material. Examples of the dye
stabilizing agent are an aldehyde such as formalin and glutaraldehyde, an N-methylol
compound, hexamethylenetetramine, and an aldehyde sulfurous acid adduct. Various chelating
agents or antifungal agents can be added in the stabilizing bath.
[0173] An overflow solution produced upon washing and/or replenishment of the stabilizing
solution can be reused in another step such as a desilvering step.
[0174] In the processing using an automatic developing machine or the like, if each processing
solution described above is condensed by evaporation, water is preferably added to
correct condensation.
[0175] The silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention may contain
a color developing agent in order to simplify processing and increases a processing
speed. For this purpose, various types of precursors of a color developing agent can
be preferably used. Examples of the precursor are an indoaniline-based compound described
in U.S. Patent 3,342,597, Schiff base compounds described in U.S. Patent 3,342,599
and Research Disclosure (RD) Nos. 14,850 and 15,159, an aldol compound described in
RD No. 13,924, a metal salt complex described in U.S. Patent 3,719,492, and an urethane-based
compound described in JP-A-53-135628.
[0176] The silver halide color light-sensitive material of the present invention may contain
various 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones in order to accelerate color development, if necessary.
Typical examples of the compound are described in JP-A-56-64339, JP-A-57-144547, and
JP-A-58-115438.
[0177] Each processing solution in the present invention is used at a temperature of 10°C
to 50°C. Although a normal processing temperature is 33°C to 38°C, processing may
be accelerated at a higher temperature to shorten a processing time, or image quality
or stability of a processing solution may be improved at a lower temperature.
[0178] The silver halide light-sensitive material of the present invention can be applied
to thermal development light-sensitive materials described in, e.g., U.S. Patent 4,500,626,
JP-A-60-133449, JP-A-59-218443, JP-A-61-238056, and EP 210,660A2.
[0179] The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention
contains a novel coupler having a high dye formation rate and a high color forming
density and can achieve an improved sharpness of an image and a high sensitivity.
[0180] The present invention will be described in more detail below by way of its examples,
but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Note that the structures
of comparative couplers will be presented in Table B.
Example 1
[0181] Layers having the following compositions were coated on a triacetylcellulose film
support having an undercoating layer to form a light-sensitive material 101.
| (1) Emulsion layer |
| Tabular emulsion (silver iodide = 5 mol%, average aspect ratio = 7.5, average grain
size = 0.65 µm) silver |
1.00 g/m² |
| Comparative coupler C-1 |
0.90 g/m² |
| Tricresylphosphate |
0.45 g/m² |
| Gelatin |
2.80 g/m² |
| (2) Protective layer |
| Sodium 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine |
0.10 g/m² |
| Gelatin (Samples 102 - 104) |
1.8 g/m² |
[0182] The comparative coupler (C-1) added to the emulsion layer of the sample 101 was replaced
with equimolar amounts of couplers listed in Table 1 below, thereby forming samples
102 to 104.
[0183] These samples were exposed to white light for sensitometry and subjected to the following
color development. The yellow density of each developed sample was measured to obtain
a relative sensitivity represented by the logarithm of a reciprocal of an exposure
amount for yielding a density of (fog + 0.2), a maximum color forming density, and
a gamma (line + slope obtained by connecting a point of fog + 0.2 and a point of fog
+ 1.2). The results are summarized in Table 1.
[0184] As is apparent from Table 1, each sample of the present invention is high in sensitivity,
contrast, and white density as compared with the comparative examples.
[0185] The development was performed at 38°C under the following conditions.
| 1. Color development |
2 min. 15 sec. |
| 2. Bleaching |
6 min. 30 sec. |
| 3. Washing |
3 min. 15 sec. |
| 4. Fixing |
6 min. 30 sec. |
| 5. Washing |
3 min. 15 sec. |
| 6. Stabilization |
3 min. 15 sec. |
[0186] The compositions of the processing solutions will be presented below.
| Color developing solution: |
| Sodium nitrilo triacetate |
1.0 g |
| Sodium sulfite |
4.0 g |
| Sodium carbonate |
30.0 g |
| Potassium bromide |
1.4 g |
| Hydroxylamine sulfate |
2.4 g |
| 4-(N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylamino) -2-methylaniline sulfate |
4.5 g |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| Bleaching solution |
| Ammonium bromide |
160.0 g |
| Ammonia water (28%) |
25.0 mℓ |
| Ethylenediamine-sodium tetraacetate iron salt |
130 g |
| Glacial acetic acid |
14 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| Fixing solution: |
| Sodium tetrapolyphosphate |
2.0 g |
| Sodium sulfite |
4.0 g |
| Ammonium thiosulfate (70%) |
175.0 mℓ |
| Sodium bisulfite |
4.6 g |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| Stabilizing solution: |
| Formalin |
2.0 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
Example 2
[0187] The tabular emulsion of the emulsion layer of the sample 101 was replaced with 0.50
g/m² (silver content) of a monodisperse octahedral emulsion (silver iodide = 11 mol%,
a core/shell type grain having 20 mol% of core and 2 mol% of shell, average grain
size = 0.4 µm, variation coefficient of grain size = 0.14) and the coupler (C-1) was
replaced with a coupler (C-3), thereby forming a sample 201.
[0188] The coupler (C-3) of the sample 201 was replaced with equimolar amounts of couplers
listed in Table 2 to form samples 202 to 206.
[0189] These samples were evaluated following the same procedures as in Example 1, and the
results of photographic performance are summarized in Table 2 below.
[0190] As is apparent from Table 2, each sample using the coupler of the present invention
is high in sensitivity, contrast, and color forming density.
Example 3
[0191] 0.90 g/m² of the coupler C-3 of the sample 201 was replaced with 0.80 g/m² of a coupler
C-5 and 0.45 g/m² of tricresylphosphate was replaced with 0.20 g/m² of dibutylphthalate,
thereby forming a sample 301.
[0192] The coupler (C-5) of the sample 301 was replaced with equimolar amounts of couplers
listed in Table 3 to form samples 302 to 305.
[0193] These samples were evaluated following the same procedures as in Example 1. The results
are summarized in Table 3 below.
[0194] As is apparent from Table 3, each sample using the coupler of the present invention
is high in sensitivity, contrast, and color forming density.
Example 4
[0195] A plurality of layers having the following compositions were coated on an undercoated
cellulose triacetate support to form sample 401 as a multilayered color photosensitive
material.
(Compositions of photosensitive layers)
[0196] Numerals corresponding to each component indicates a coating amount represented in
units of g/m². The coating amount of a silver halide is represented by the coating
amount of silver. The coating amount of a sensitizing dye is represented in units
of mols per mol of a silver halide in the same layer.
(Sample 401)
[0198]
| Layer 1: Antihalation layer |
| Black colloidal silver silver |
0.18 |
| Gelatin |
1.40 |
| Layer 2: Interlayer |
| 2,5-di-t-pentadecylhydroquinone |
0.18 |
| EX-1 |
0.18 |
| EX-3 |
0.020 |
| EX-12 |
2.0 x 10⁻⁵ |
| U-1 |
0.060 |
| U-2 |
0.080 |
| U-3 |
0.10 |
| HBS-1 |
0.10 |
| HBS-2 |
0.020 |
| Gelatin |
0.80 |
| Layer 3: 1st red-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion A silver |
0.25 |
| Emulsion B silver |
0.25 |
| Sensitizing dye I |
6.9 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye II |
1.8 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye III |
3.1 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-2 |
0.17 |
| EX-10 |
0.020 |
| EX-14 |
0.17 |
| U-1 |
0.070 |
| U-2 |
0.050 |
| U-3 |
0.070 |
| HBS-1 |
0.060 |
| Gelatin |
0.70 |
| Layer 4: 2nd red-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion G silver |
0.80 |
| Sensitizing dye I |
5.1 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye II |
1.4 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye III |
2.3 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-2 |
0.20 |
| EX-3 |
0.050 |
| EX-10 |
0.015 |
| EX-14 |
0.20 |
| EX-15 |
0.050 |
| C-6 |
0.011 |
| U-1 |
0.070 |
| U-2 |
0.050 |
| U-3 |
0.070 |
| Gelatin |
1.10 |
| Layer 5: 3rd red-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion D silver |
1.30 |
| Sensitizing dye I |
5.4 X 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye II |
1.4 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye III |
2.4 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-2 |
0.097 |
| EX-3 |
0.010 |
| EX-4 |
0.080 |
| EX-8 |
0.090 |
| HBS-1 |
0.11 |
| HBS-2 |
0.05 |
| Gelatin |
1.00 |
| Layer 6: Interlayer |
| EX-5 |
0.040 |
| HBS-1 |
0.020 |
| Gelatin |
0.50 |
| Layer 7: 1st green-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion A silver |
0.15 |
| Emulsion B silver |
0.15 |
| Sensitizing dye IV |
3.0 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye V |
1.0 x 10⁻⁴ |
| Sensitizing dye VI |
3.8 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-1 |
0.021 |
| EX-6 |
0.26 |
| EX-7 |
0.030 |
| C-6 |
0.025 |
| HBS-1 |
0.10 |
| HBS-3 |
0.010 |
| Gelatin |
0.63 |
| Layer 8: 2nd green-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion C silver |
0.45 |
| Sensitizing dye IV |
2.1 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye V |
7.0 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye VI |
2.6 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-6 |
0.094 |
| EX-7 |
0.026 |
| C-6 |
0.018 |
| HBS-1 |
0.16 |
| HBS-3 |
8.0 x 10⁻³ |
| Gelatin |
0.50 |
| Layer 9: 3rd green-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion E silver |
1.05 |
| Sensitizing dye IV |
3.5 X 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye V |
8.0 x 10⁻⁵ |
| Sensitizing dye VI |
3.0 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-1 |
0.013 |
| EX-11 |
0.065 |
| EX-13 |
0.019 |
| C-6 |
0.015 |
| HBS-1 |
0.10 |
| HBS-2 |
0.05 |
| Gelatin |
1.00 |
| Layer 10: Yellow filter layer |
| Yellow colloidal silver silver |
0.050 |
| EX-5 |
0.080 |
| HBS-1 |
0.030 |
| Gelatin |
0.50 |
| Layer 11: 1st blue-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion A silver |
0.080 |
| Emulsion B silver |
0.070 |
| Emulsion F silver |
0.070 |
| Sensitizing dye VII |
3.5 x 10⁻⁴ |
| C-6 |
0.042 |
| EX-9 |
0.72 |
| HBS-1 |
0.28 |
| Gelatin |
1.10 |
| Layer 12: 2nd blue-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion G silver |
0.30 |
| Sensitizing dye VII |
2.1 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-9 |
0.15 |
| EX-10 |
7.0 x 10⁻³ |
| HBS-1 |
0.050 |
| Gelatin |
0.78 |
| Layer 13: 3rd blue-sensitive emulsion layer |
| Emulsion H silver |
0.60 |
| Sensitizing dye VII |
2.2 x 10⁻⁴ |
| EX-9 |
0.20 |
| HBS-1 |
0.070 |
| Gelatin |
0.69 |
| Layer 14: 1st protective layer |
| Emulsion I silver |
0.20 |
| U-4 |
0.11 |
| U-5 |
0.17 |
| HBS-1 |
5.0 x 10⁻² |
| Gelatin |
1.00 |
| Layer 15: 2nd protective layer |
| H-1 |
0.40 |
| B-1 (diameter = 1.7 µm) |
5.0 x 10⁻² |
| B-2 (diameter = 1.7 µm) |
0.10 |
| B-3 |
0.10 |
| S-1 |
0.20 |
| Gelatin |
1.20 |
[0199] In addition, in order to improve storage stability, processability, a resistance
to pressure, antiseptic and mildewproofing properties, antistatic properties, and
coating properties, W-1, W-2, W-3, B-4, B-5, F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, F-6, F-7, F-8,
F-9, F-10, F-11, F-12, F-13, iron salt, lead salt, gold salt, platinum salt, iridium
salt, and rhodium salt were added to all of the above layers.
(Samples 402 - 410)
[0200] The coupler (C-6) of the layers 4, 7, 8, 9, and 11 of the sample 401 were replaced
with comparative couplers and couplers of the present invention at molar ratios listed
in Table 4, thereby forming samples 402 to 410. The addition amounts of the couplers
were determined such that substantially equal sensitivities and gammas were obtained
when the following color development was performed after white imagewise exposure.
[0201] These samples were exposed imagewise with green light and subjected to the following
color development. Values obtained by subtracting a yellow fog density from a yellow
density at a magenta density (fog + 1.0) are shown as a white turbidity in Table 4.
[0202] An MTF value of a cyan image at 25 cycle/mm was obtained. The measurement of the
MTF value was performed in accordance with the method described in Mies, "The Theory
of Photographic Process 3rd. ed.," Macmillan Co., Ltd.
| Processing Method |
| Process |
Time |
Temperature |
Quantity of replenisher* |
Tank volume |
| Color |
3 min. 15 sec. |
37.8°C |
25 mℓ |
10 ℓ |
| Bleaching |
45 sec. |
38°C |
5 mℓ |
4 ℓ |
| Bleach-fixing (1) |
45 sec. |
38°C |
- |
4 ℓ |
| Bleach-fixing (2) |
45 sec. |
38°C |
30 mℓ |
4 ℓ |
| Washing (1) |
20 sec. |
38°C |
- |
2 ℓ |
| Washing (2) |
20 sec. |
38°C |
30 mℓ |
2 ℓ |
| Stabilization |
20 sec. |
38°C |
20 mℓ |
2 ℓ |
| Drying |
1 min. |
55°C |
|
|
| * A quantity of replenisher is a quantity per meter of a 35-mm wide sample |
[0203] Each of the bleach-fixing and washing steps was performed by a counter flow system
piping from (2) to (1), and all of an overflow solution of the bleaching solution
was introduced to the bleach-fixing step (2).
[0204] In the above processing, an amount of the bleach-fixing solution carried to the washing
step was 2 mℓ per meter of a 35-mm wide photosensitive material.
| Color developing solution: |
| |
Mother solution (g) |
Replenisher (g) |
| Diethylenetriaminepentaacetate |
5.0 |
6.0 |
| Sodium sulfite |
4.0 |
5.0 |
| Potassium carbonate |
30.0 |
37.0 |
| Potassium bromide |
1.3 |
0.5 |
| Potassium iodide |
1.2 mg |
- |
| Hydroxylamine sulfate |
2.0 |
3.6 |
| 4-[N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxylethylamino] -2-methylaniline sulfate |
4.7 |
6.2 |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
10.00 |
10.15 |
| Bleaching solution: |
| |
Mother solution (g) |
Replenisher (g) |
| Ferric ammonium 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetate monohydrate |
144.0 |
206.0 |
| 1,3-diaminopropane-tetraacetate |
2.8 |
4.0 |
| Ammonium bromide |
84.0 |
120.0 |
| Ammonium nitrate |
17.5 |
25.0 |
| Ammonia water (27%) |
10.0 mℓ |
1.8 mℓ |
| Acetic acid (98%) |
51.1 |
73.0 |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
4.3 |
3.4 |
| Bleach-fixing solution: |
| |
Mother solution (g) |
Replenisher (g) |
| Ferric ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate |
50.0 |
- |
| Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate |
5.0 |
25.0 |
| Ammonium sulfite |
12.0 |
20.0 |
| Ammonium thiosulfate aqueous solution (700 g/ℓ) |
290.0 mℓ |
320.0 mℓ |
| Ammonia water |
6.0 mℓ |
15.0 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
6.8 |
8.0 |
Washing Solution: Common for mother solution and replenisher
[0205] Tap water was supplied to a mixed-bed column filled with an H type strongly acidic
cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120B: available from Rohm & House Co.) and an
OH type strongly basic anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-400) to set the concentrations
of calcium and magnesium to be 3 mg/ℓ or less. Subsequently, 20 mg/ℓ of sodium isocyanuric
acid dichloride and 150 mg/ℓ of sodium sulfate were added. The pH of the solution
fell within the range of 6.5 to 7.5.
| Stabilizing solution: |
| |
Common for mother solution and replenisher (g) |
| Formalin (37%) |
1.2 mℓ |
| Surfactant [C₁₀H₂₁-O-(CH₂CH₂O)₁₀-H] |
0.4 |
| Ethyleneglycol |
1.0 |
| Water to make |
1.0 ℓ |
| pH |
5.0 - 7.0 |
[0206] As is apparent from Table 4, the coupler of the present invention is highly active
and therefore can achieve a satisfactory function as a DIR coupler even with a small
addition amount. The coupler is also excellent in color reproducibility represented
by the color turbidity and sharpness represented by the MTF value.
[0207] The emulsions A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I used in Example 4 are as listed in Table
5 below.
[0208] The structures of the compounds used in Examples 1 to 4 will be presented in Table
C.
Example 5
[0209] The coupler C-5 of the layer 12 and the coupler C-7 of the layer 13 of the sample
101 of JP-A-2-854 were replaced with an equimolar amount of the coupler (7), (9),
(10), (31), (32), (33), (34), or (36) of the present invention, and the following
color development was performed after blue imagewise exposure. As a result, each sample
using the coupler of the present invention had a high yellow color forming density
and a high gamma.
| Processing Steps |
| Step |
Time |
Temperature |
| 1st development |
6 min. |
38°C |
| Washing |
2 min. |
38°C |
| Reversal |
2 min. |
38°C |
| Color Development |
6 min. |
38°C |
| Control |
2 min. |
38°C |
| Bleaching |
6 min. |
38°C |
| Fixing |
4 min. |
38°C |
| Washing |
4 min. |
38°C |
| Stabilization Drying |
1 min. |
room temperature |
[0210] The compositions of the respective processing solutions were as follows.
| 1st developing solution |
| Water |
700 mℓ |
| Pentasodium nitrilo-N,N,N-trimethylene phosphonate |
2.0 g |
| Sodium sulfite |
20.0 g |
| Hydroquinone monosulfonate |
30.0 g |
| Potassium carbonate (monohydrate) |
30.0 g |
| 1-phenyl-4-methyl-4-hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone |
2.0 g |
| Potassium bromide |
2.5 g |
| Potassium thiocyanate |
1.2 g |
| Potassium iodide (0.1% solution) |
2.0 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
| Reversal solution |
| Water |
700 mℓ |
| Pentasodium nitrilo-N,N,N-trimethylene phosphonate |
3.0 g |
| Stannous chloride (dihydrate) |
1.0 g |
| p-aminophenyl |
0.1 g |
| Sodium hydroxide |
8.0 g |
| Glacial acetic acid |
15.0 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
| Color developing solution |
| Water |
700 mℓ |
| Pentasodium nitrilo-N,N,N-trimethylene phosphonate |
3.0 g |
| Sodium sulfite |
7.0 g |
| Trisodium phosphate (dodecahydrate) |
36.0 g |
| Potassium bromide |
1.0 g |
| Potassium iodide (0.1% solution) |
90 mg |
| Sodium hydroxide |
3.0 g |
| Citrazinic acid |
1.5 g |
| N-ethyl-N(β-methane-sulfonamidoethyl)-3-methyl-4-aminoaniline sulfate |
11.0 g |
| 3,6-dithiaoctane-1,8-diol |
1.0 g |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
| Control solution |
| Water |
700 mℓ |
| Sodium sulfite |
12 g |
| Sodium ethylene-diaminetetraacetate (dihydrate) |
8 g |
| Thioglycerin |
0.4 mℓ |
| Glacial acetic acid |
3 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
| Bleaching solution |
| Water |
800 mℓ |
| Sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (dihydrate) |
2 g |
| Ammonium ethylenediamine tetraacetate iron (III)(dihydrate) |
120 g |
| Potassium bromide |
100 g |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
| Fixing solution |
| Water |
800 mℓ |
| Sodium thiosulfate |
80.0 g |
| Sodium sulfite |
5.0 g |
| Sodium bisulfite |
5.0 g |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
| Stabilizing Solution |
| Water |
800 mℓ |
| Formalin (37 wt%) |
5.0 mℓ |
| Fuji Drywell (surfactant: available from Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.) |
5.0 mℓ |
| Water to make |
1,000 mℓ |
Example 6
[0211] As a silver halide color light-sensitive material, the sample No. 214 (multilayered
color paper) described in Example 2 of European Patent EPO 355,660A2 (corresponding
to JP-A-2-139544 and USS. N. 07/393,747) was used. Note that III-10 was used in place
of III-23 described in that patent as a bisphenol compound, and the yellow coupler
(ExY), the cyan coupler (ExC), the image stabilizer (Cpd-8), the solvent (Solv-6),
and the oxonol dye were changed to the following compounds. In addition, compounds
listed in Table D below were used as antiseptic agents (mildewproofing agents).
[0212] The yellow coupler of the sample 601 was replaced with the couplers (5), (6), (7),
and (8) of the present invention, and development was performed following the same
procedures as in Example 2 described above. As a result, a high yellow color forming
density was obtained.
Example 7
[0213] EX-6 of the layers 7 and 8 of the sample 101 of JP-A-2-89045 were replaced with equimolar
amounts of couplers (59), (61), (64), (65), (66), (68), and (69) of the present invention,
and green imagewise exposure was performed. Thereafter, color development was performed
following the same procedures as in Example 5. As a result, each sample using the
coupler of the present invention had a high magenta color forming density and a high
gamma.
Example 8
[0214] EX-2 of the layers 3 and 4 of the sample 101 of JP-A-2-89045 were replaced with equimolar
amounts of couplers (71), (73), (74), (75), (76), (79), (80), and (81) of the present
invention, and red imagewise exposure was performed. Thereafter, color development
was performed following the same procedures as in Example 5. As a result, each sample
using the coupler of the present invention had a high cyan color forming density and
a high gamma.
