EP0310125B1

EP0310125B1 - Silver halide color photographic material

Info

Publication number: EP0310125B1
Application number: EP88116247A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kei Sakanoue; Hedetoshi Kobayashi
Original assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1987-10-02
Filing date: 1988-09-30
Publication date: 1995-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-30
Also published as: EP0310125A2; DE3853609D1; DE3853609T2; EP0310125A3; JPH0255A

Description

The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographic material.
The fundamental steps of processing silver halide color photographic materials generally include a color development step and a desilvering step. In the color development step, exposed silver halide is reduced with a color developing agent to form silver and the oxidized color developing agent reacts with a color former (coupler) to yield a dye image. In the subsequent desilvering step, the silver thus formed is oxidized with a bleaching agent, further changed into a soluble silver complex by a fixing agent and then dissolved away.
In recent years, it has been strongly desired to accelerate the processing, that is, to shorten the processing time in this field. In the above-described color development processing, there is a strong need to shorten the time for the desilvering step which occupies nearly one half of the total processing time.
In response to such a need for shortening the time for the desilvering step, there are known bleach-fixing solutions which contain an aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric ion complex salt and a thiosulfate in a single solution, as described in DE-B- 866,605. However, the bleaching ability of the solution is very weak since an aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric ion complex salt which per se is weak in oxidizing power (bleaching ability) and a thiosulfate which has a reducing power are coexistent in a single solution. Therefore, it is very difficult for the bleach-fixing solution to sufficiently achieve desilveration of color photographic materials, particularly for elements of high sensitivity and high silver content; consequently it cannot be employed for practical use.
On the other hand, for the purpose of increasing the bleaching ability, there has been proposed a method where various kinds of bleach accelerating agents are added to a bleaching bath, bleach-fixing bath or a prebath thereof. Examples of these bleach accelerating agents include various mercapto compounds as described in US-A-3,893,858, GB-B-1,138,842, and JP-A-53-141623 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"); compounds having a disulfide bond as described in JP-A-53-95630; thiazolidine derivatives as described in JP-B-53-9854 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"); isothiourea derivatives as described in JP-A-53-94927; thiourea derivatives as described in JP-B-45-8506 and JP-B-49-26586; thioamide compounds as described in JP-A-49-42349; dithiocarbarmates as described in JP-A-55-26506; and arylenediamine compounds as described in US-A-4,552,834.
Although some of these bleach accelerating agents exhibit certain bleach accelerating effects, they are expensive compounds orthey are insufficiently stable in the bath having bleaching ability. Further, their bleach accelerating effect per se is still insufficient and thus they are not satisfactorily employed for practical use.
Moreover, in the case of conducting processing with a bleaching bath, bleach-fixing bath or prebath thereof containing various bleach accelerating agents described above, where the bleach accelerating agent is a compound having a mercapto group, the mercapto compound may react with undeveloped silver halide or silver halide formed by a bleaching reaction present in an emulsion layer of a photographic material to form a sparingly soluble silver salt which is not solubilized by a fixing agent and, as a result, cause insufficient fixing.
Further, when a continuous processing method with replenishment is performed using a processing bath having bleach-fixing ability, silver ions are accumulated in the bleach-fixing bath. Silver ions form a sparingly soluble silver salt with a mercapto compound. This reaction is particularly apt to occur in the case where iodide ions are present in the bleach-fixing bath employed.
As described above, there are many restrictions for the use of bleach accelerating agents in a bleaching bath, bleach-fixing bath or a prebath thereof.
It is also known that a photographic light-sensitive material containing the above-described mercapto compound or a precursor thereof which is a bleach accelerating agent can be processed. However, this method also has many problems in that the mercapto compound adversely affects photographic properties of the photographic light-sensitive material to which it is added and in that the mercapto compound reacts with silver halide at an undeveloped portion of the photographic material to form a sparingly soluble silver salt.
There is also a disclosure with respect to couplers capable of releasing a bleach accelerating compound in Research Disclosure, No. 24241, ibid., No. 11449, and JP-A-61-201247.
It is also known that sensitivity is increased and graininess is improved by a silver halide color photographic material having a high iodide content, i.e., using a silver halide emulsion which contains a large amount of silver iodide.
However, an increase in the silver iodide content in a silver halide color photographic material causes a new problem on deterioration of desilvering. In addition, such deterioration of desilvering cannot be prevented by the addition of a bleach accelerating agent to a bleaching bath, bleach-fixing bath or prebath thereof in a conventional manner as described above. Aphotographic light-sensitive material containing a high silver iodide content emulsion is inferior in its desilvering property as compared to one with a low silver iodide content emulsion.
DE-A-3641861 relates to the desilverization of photographic materials containing silver iodobromide emulsions of high iodide content employed to obtain an improved graininess, said photographic materials comprising a support having thereon silver halide emulsion layers containing iodobromide grains of an average iodide content of 7 mol% or more and containing a naphthol type coupler and a DIR coupler.
From EP-A-0277647 and EP-A-0307927, both belonging to the state of the art according to Article 54(3) EPC, it is known to incorporate into a silver halide color photographic material naphthol type couplers having diffusible substituents released upon coupling with an oxidized primary aromatic amine color developing agent and to employ silver halide emulsions having an average iodide content of 7 mol% or more.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a silver halide color photographic material which has an excellent desilvering property and good graininess.
According to the present invention this object is attained with a silver halide color photographic material comprising a support having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide color photographic material contains at least one silver halide emulsion containing silver iodide grains whose average iodide content is at least 7 mol % and at least one compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent upon reaction with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine type color developing agent, said compound having the following general formula (I):
wherein A represents a group whose bond to (L1)_a-(L₂)_b-Z is capable of being cleaved upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; L₁ represents a timing group or a group whose bond to (L₂)_b-Z is capable of being cleaved upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; L₂ represents a timing group or a group whose bond to Z is capable of being released upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; a and b each represents 0 or 1 and Z is a group represented by formula (XII), (XIII) or (XIV);

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to A-(L₁)_a-(L₂)b-; R₃₁ represents a divalent aliphatic group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R₃₂ represents a group as defined for R_31' a divalent aromatic group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms or a 3-membered to 8-membered divalent heterocyclic group; X₁ represents -O-, -S-, -COO-, -SO₂-,

X₂ represents an aromatic group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; X₃ represents a 3-membered to 8-membered, preferably 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic group containing at least one carbon atom which is connected to S in the ring; Y₁ represents a carboxy group, a salt thereof, a sulfo group or a salt thereof, a hydroxy group, a phosphonic acid group or a salt thereof, an amino group which is substituted with an aliphatic group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, -NHS0₂R₃₅ or-SO₂NHR₃₅; Y₂ represents a group as defined for Y₁ or a hydrogen atom; r represents 0 or 1; f represents an integer from 0 to 4; m represents an integer from 1 to 4; u represents an integer from more than 0 up to 4; provided that myl's may be connected at a position which can be substituted on R₃₁-{(X₁)_r-R₃₂}l, X₂-{(X₁)_r-R₃₂]l or X₃-{(X₁)_rR₃₂}l;
when m represents 2 or more, two or more Y₁' may be the same or different; when f represents 2 or more, two or more (X1)_r-R₃₂'s may be the same or different; R₃₃, R34 and R₃₅ each represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
with the proviso that said compound is not
In accordance with the present invention, a deterioration in desilvering capability which occurs in photographic light-sensitive materials comprising a high silver iodide content emulsion and which could not be sufficiently prevented by using conventional bleach accelerating agents is effectively eliminated by means of the incorporation of the compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent having the general formula (I).
The silver halide emulsion whose average iodide content is at least 7 mol% according to the present invention is now described in detail (hereinafter referred to as "silver halide emulsion having a high silver iodide content"). iodide content silver halide emulsion which is effectively employed in the present invention is determined by the solid solution limiting value to be 40 mol %. Therefore, in the present invention, a silver halide emulsion whose silver iodide content is preferably in a range from 8 mol % to 40 mol %, more preferably in a range from 10 mol % to 30 mol %, and further more preferably in a range from 12 mol % to 25 mol %, is employed together with the compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent according to the present invention. When the silver iodide content is lower than the lower limit described above, the effect of the present invention generally decreases to some extent.
While the grain size of the high iodide content silver halide emulsion according to the present invention may be appropriately selected, when the high iodide content silver halide emulsion which preferably has a grain size of not less than 0.8 f..lm, more preferably not less than 1.5 µm, is employed together with the compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent according to the present invention, a color photographic light-sensitive material having high sensitivity and improved desilvering property is obtained.
The high iodide content emulsion which is used in the present invention can be prepared using various methods. Specifically, any of, e.g., an acid process, a neutral process and an ammonia process, can be employed. Further, soluble silver salts and soluble halogen salts can be reacted by techniques such as a single jet process, a double jet process, and a combination thereof.
As one system of the double jet process, a controlled double jet process in which the pAg in the liquid phase where silver halide is formed is maintained at a predetermined level can be employed. As another system of the double jet process, a triple jet process in which soluble halogen salts having different compositions from each other are added individually (for example, a soluble silver salt, a soluble bromide and a soluble iodide) can also be employed.
In orderto prepare an emulsion of relatively large size grains, it is preferred to employ a silver halide solvent, for example, ammonia, thiocyanates, thioureas or amines as described in T.H. James ed., The Theory of the Photographic Process, Fourth Edition, page 9, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. (1977).
It is well known in the art that pH and pAg are controlled during the formation of silver halide grains so as to obtain preferred photographic properties. The pH may be preferably varied in a range from 2 to 10, depending on the method for preparation of grains.
Silver halide grains in the high iodide content emulsion according to the present invention may have a regular crystal structure, for example, a hexahedral, octahedral, dodecahedral or tetradecahedral structure, or an irregular crystal structure, for example, a spherical or tabular structure.
The inner portion and the surface layer of the silver halide grains may be different in halogen composition or may be uniform. Double structure grains in which the inner portion (core) is composed of silver iodochlorobromide or silver iodobromide containing a high concentration of silver iodide and the outer portion (shell) is composed of silver chloroiodobromide or silver iodobromide of a low silver iodide content are preferably employed in the emulsion according to the present invention. The ratio of the silver amount in the core and the shell can be selected in a wide range, but is preferably in the range from 5/1 to 1/5 (core Ag amount/shell Ag amount).
With respect to double structure grains, the object of the present invention can be achieved by a silver halide emulsion in which the average value of the silver iodide content in the grains is not less than 7 mol %. More specifically, the silver iodide content in the core is preferably selected to be not less than 15 mol %, more preferably not less than 25 mol %, further more preferably from 35 mol % to the solid solution limiting value of silver iodobromide (refer to T.H. James ed., The Theory of the Photographic Process, Fourth Edition, page 4). On the other hand, the silver iodide content in the shell is preferably not more than 5 mol % and more preferably not more than 2 mol %.
The formation or physical ripening of the silver halide grains may be carried out in the presence of, e.g., cadmium salts, zinc salts, lead salts, thallium salts, iridium salts or complex salts thereof, rhodium salts or complex salts thereof and iron salts or complex salts thereof.
For removal of soluble salts from the emulsion after precipitate formation or physical ripening, the well known noodle washing process in which gelatin is gelated may be used. In addition, a flocculation process utilizing inorganic salts having a polyvalent anion (for example, sodium sulfate), anionic surface active agents, anionic polymers (for example, polystyrene sulfonic acid), or gelatin derivatives (for example, aliphatic acylated gelatin, aromatic acylated gelatin and aromatic carbamoylated gelatin, aromatic acylated gelatin and aromatic carbamoylated gelatin) may be used.
Silver halide emulsions are usually chemically sensitized. For this chemical sensitization, for example, the methods as described in H. Frieser ed., Die Grundlagen der Photographischen Prozesse mit Silberhalogeni- den, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, pages 675 to 734 (1968) can be used. More specifically, a sulfur sensitization using active gelatin or compounds (for example, thiosulfates, thioureas, mercapto compounds and rhodanines) containing sulfur capable of reacting with silver; a reduction sensitization using reducing substances (for example, stannous salts, amines, hydrazine derivatives, formamidinesulfinic acid, and silane compounds); a noble metal sensitization using noble metal compounds (for example, complex salts of Group VIII metals in the Periodic Table, such as, e.g., Pt, Ir and Pd, as well as gold complex salts); can be applied alone or in combination with each other.
The photographic emulsion used in the present invention may include various compounds for the purpose of preventing fog formation or stabilizing photographic performance in the photographic light-sensitive material during the production, storage or photographic processing thereof. For example, compounds known as antifoggants or stabilizers can be incorporated, including for example azoles such as, e.g., benzothiazolium salts, nitroimidazoles, nitrobenzimidazoles, chlorobenzimidazoles, bromobenzimidazoles, mercaptothiazoles, mercaptobenzothiazoles, mercaptobenzimidazoles, mercaptothiadiazoles, aminotriazoles, benzotriazoles, nitro- benzotriazoles and mercaptotetrazoles (particularly 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole); mercaptopyrimidines; mercaptotriazines; thioketo compounds such as, e.g., oxazolinethione; azaindenes such as, e.g., triazain- denes, tetraazaindenes (particularly 4-hydroxy-substituted (1,3,3a,7)tetraazaindenes) and pentaazaindenes; benzenethiosulfonic acids; benzenesulfinic acids and benzenesulfonic amides.
The photographic emulsion used in the present invention may also be spectrally sensitized with methine dyes or other dyes. Suitable dyes which can be employed include cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, complex cyanine dyes, complex merocyanine dyes, holopolar cyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes, styryl dyes, and hem- ioxonol dyes. Of these dyes, cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes and complex merocyanine dyes are particularly useful. Any conventionally utilized nucleus for cyanine dyes, such as basic heterocyclic nuclei, is applicable to these dyes. That is, e.g., a pyrroline nucleus, an oxazoline nucleus, a thiazoline nucleus, a pyrrole nucleus, an oxazole nucleus, a thiazole nucleus, a selenazole nucleus, an imidazole nucleus, a tetrazole nucleus and a pyridin nucleus, and further, nuclei formed by condensing alicyclic hydrocarbon rings with these nuclei and nuclei formed by condensing aromatic hydrocarbon rings with these nuclei, that is, e.g., an indolenine nucleus, a benzindolenine nucleus, an indole nucleus, a benzoxazole nucleus, a naphthoxazole nucleus, a benzothiazole nucleus, a naphthothiazole nucleus, a benzoselenazole nucleus, a benzimidazole nucleus and a quinoline nucleus, are appropriate. The carbon atoms of these nuclei can also be substituted.
In addition, to merocyanine dyes and complex merocyanine dyes, as nuclei having a keto-methylene structure, 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic nuclei such as a pyrazolin-5-one nucleus, a thiohydantoin nucleus, a 2-thioxazolidin-2,4-dione nucleus, a thiazolidin-2,4-dione nucleus, a rhodanine nucleus, and a thiobarbituric acid nucleus may also be used.
Useful sensitizing dyes include those as described, for example, in DE-B-929,080, US-A-2,231,658, US-A-2,493,748, US-A-2,503,776, US-A-2,519,001, US-A-2,912,329, US-A-3,656,959, US-A-3,672,897, US-A-3,694,217, US-A-4,025,349 and US-A-4,046,572, GB-B-1,242,588, JP-B-44-14030 and JP-B-52-24844.
These sensitizing dyes can be employed individually, and can also be employed in combination. A combination of sensitizing dyes is often used, particularly for the purpose of supersensitization.
Representative examples thereof are described, for example, in US-A-2,688,544, US-A-2,977,229, US-A-3,397,060, US-A-3,522,052, US-A-3,527,641, US-A-3,617,293, US-A-3,628,964, US-A-3,666,480, US-A-3,672,898, US-A-3,679,428, US-A-3,703,377, US-A-3,769,301, US-A-3,814,609, US-A-3,837,862 and US-A-4,026,707, GB-B-1,344,281 and GB-B-1,507,803, JP-B-43-4936, JP-B-53-12375, JP-A-52-110618 and JP-A-52-109925.
The sensitizing dyes may be present in the emulsion together with dyes which themselves do not give rise to any spectral sensitizing effects but exhibit a supersensitizing effect or materials which do not substantially absorb visible light but exhibit a supersensitizing effect. For example, aminostilbene compounds substituted with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group (for example, those described in US-A-2,933,390 and US-A-3,635,721), aromatic organic acid-formaldehyde condensates (for example, those described in US-A-3,743,510), cadmium salts, and azaindene compounds can be present. The combinations as described in US-A-3,615,613, US-A-3,615,641, US-A-3,617,295 and US-A-3,635,721 are particularly useful.
The present invention is also applicable to multilayer multicolor photographic materials having layers sensitive to at least two different spectral wavelength ranges on a support. Amultilayer natural color photographic material generally possesses at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, respectively, on a support. The order of these layers can be varied, if desired. Ordinarily, a cyan-forming coupler is present in a red-sensitive emulsion layer, a magenta-forming coupler is present in a green-sensitive emulsion layer, and a yellow-forming coupler is present in a blue-sensitive emulsion layer, respectively. However, if desired, different combinations can be employed.
The compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent which can be used in the present invention is now described in detail.
In the general formula (I), A specifically represents a coupler residual group or an oxidation reduction group.
When A represents a coupler residual group, any known coupler residual group can be utilized. Suitable examples thereof include a yellow coupler residual group (for example, an open-chain ketomethylene type coupler residual group), a magenta coupler residual group (for example, a 5-pyrazolone type coupler residual group, a pyrazoloimidazole type coupler residual group or a pyrazolotriazole type coupler residual group), a cyan coupler residual group (for example, a phenol type coupler residual group or a naphthol type coupler residual group), and a non-color forming coupler residual group (for example, an indanone type coupler residual group or an acetophenone type coupler residual group). Further, the heterocyclic type coupler residual groups as described in for example, US-A-4,315,070, US-A-4,183,752, US-A-3,961,959and US-A-4,171,223 are also useful.
In the case wherein A represents a coupler residual group in general formula (I), preferred coupler residual groups include those represented by the general formula (Cp-1), (Cp-2), (Cp-3), (Cp-4), (Cp-5), (Cp-6), (Cp-7), (Cp-8), (Cp-9) or (Cp-10) described below. These coupler residual groups are preferred because of their high coupling rates.
In the above-described general formulae, the free bond attached to the coupling position indicates a position to which a group capable of being released upon coupling is bonded. When R₅₁, R₅₂, R₅₃, R₅₄, R₅₅, R₅₆, R₅₇, R₅₈, R₅₉, R₆₉, R₆₁, R₆₂ or R_s3 in the above-described general formulae contains a diffusion-resistant group, it is selected so that the total number of carbon atoms included therein is form 8 to 40 and preferably from 10 to 30. In other cases, the total number of carbon atoms included therein is preferably not more than 15. In cases of bis, telomer or polymer couplers, any of the above-described substituents forms a divalent group and may connect to a repeating unit, for instance. In such cases, the total number of carbon atoms can be outside of the above-described range.
R₅₁ to R_s3, d and e in the above-described general formulae (Cp-1) to (Cp-10) are now explained in detail. In the following, R₄₁ represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; R₄₂ represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; and R₄₃, R₄₄ and R₄₅ each represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group.
R₅₁ represents a group as defined for R₄₁.
R₅₂ and R₅₃ each represents a group as defined for R₄₂.
R₅₄ represents a group as defined for R₄₁,

or N≡C-.
R₅₅ represents a group as defined for R₄₁.
R₅₆ and R₅₇ each represents a group as defined for R₄₃, R₄₁S-, R₄₁O-,
R₅₈ represents a group as defined for R₄₁.
R₅₉ represents a group as defined for R₄₁,
R₄₁O-, R₄₁S-, a halogen atom or

d represents an integer from 0 to 3. When d represents 2 or more, two or more R₅₉'s may be the same or different. Further, each of two R₅₉'s may be a divalent group and connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.
Representative examples of the divalent groups for forming a cyclic structure include a
wherein f represents an integer from 0 to 4; and g represents an integer from 0 to 2.
R₆₀ represents a group as defined for R₄₁.
R₆₁ represents a group as defined for R₄₁.
R₆₂ represents a group as defined for R₄₁, R₄₁CONH-, R₄₁OCONH-, R₄₁SO₂NH-,

R₄₃0-, R_4iS-, a halogen atom or
R₆₃ represents a group as defined for R₄₁,
R₄₁S0₂-, R₄₁OCO-, ROSO₂-, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group or R₄₃CO-.
Symbol "e" represents an integer from 0 to 4. When e represents 2 or more, two or more R₆₂'s or R₆₃'s may be the same or different.
The aliphatic group described above is an aliphatic group having from 1 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and may be saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain, branched chain or cyclic, or substituted or unsubstituted. Representative examples of unsubstituted aliphatic groups include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a tert-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-amyl group, a hexyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group, an octyl group, a, 1,1,3,3,-tetramethylbutyl group, a decyl group, a dodecyl group, a hexadecyl group, or an octadecyl group.
The aromatic group described above is an aromatic group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and preferably an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group or an unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl group.
The heterocyclic group described above is a heterocyclic group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and containing at least one of a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom, as a hetero atom, and preferably a three-membered to eight-membered, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group. Representative examples of the unsubstituted heterocyclic group include a 2-pyridyl group, a 2-thienyl group, a 2-furyl group, a 1-imidazolyl group, a i-indolyl group, a phthalimido group, a 1,3,4-thiadia- zol-2-yl group, a 2-quinolyl group, a 2,4-dioxo-1,3-imidazolidin-5-yl group, a 2,4-dioxo-1,3-imidazolidine-3-yl group, a succinimido group, a 1,2,4-triazol-2-yl group, or a 1-pyrazolyl group.
The aliphatic group, aromatic group and heterocyclic group may have a substituent as described above. Representative examples of the substituents include a halogen atom, R₄₇0-, R₄₆S-,

a group as defined for R₄₆,
R₄₆COO-, R₄₇OSO₂-, a cyano group, or a nitro group. In the above described formulae, R₄₆ represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; and R₄₇, R₄₈ and R₄₉ each represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. The aliphatic group, aromatic group and heterocyclic group each has the same meaning as defined above.
Preferred embodiments with respect to R₅₁ to R₆₃, d and e are described below.
R₅₁ is preferably an aliphatic group or an aromatic group.
R₅₂, R₅₃ and R₅₅ each is preferably an aromatic group.
R₅₄ is preferably R₄₁COHN- or
R₅₆ and R₅₇ each is preferably an aliphatic group, R₄₁O- or R₄₁S-.
R₅₈ is preferably an aliphatic group or an aromatic group.
R₅₉ in general formula (Cp-6) is preferably a chlorine atom, an aliphatic group or R₄₁CONH-.
d in the general formula (CP-6) is preferably 1 or 2.
R₆₀ is preferably an aromatic group.
R₅₉ in the general formula (Cp-7) is preferably R₄₁CONH-.
d in the general formula (Cp-7) is preferably 1.
R₆₁ is preferably an aliphatic group or an aromatic group.
e in the general formula (Cp-8) is preferably 0 or 1.
R₆₂ is preferably R₄₁OCONH-, R₄₁CONH- or R₄₁SO₂NH-. The position of R₆₂ is preferably the 5-position of the naphthol ring.
R₆₃ in the general formula (Cp-9) is preferably R₄₁CONH-, R₄₁SO₂NH-,
R₄₁SO₂-,
a nitro group or a cyano group.
R₆₃ in the general formula (Cp-10) is preferably
R₄₃OCO- or R₄₃CO-.
Representative examples of R₅₁ to R₆₃ are set forth below.
Examples of R₅₁ include a tert-butyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group, a phenyl group, a 3-[2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido]phenyl group, or a methyl group.
Examples of R₅₂ and R₅₃ include a 2-chloro-5-dodecyloxycarbonylphenyl group, a 2-chloro-5-hexadecylsulfonamidophenyl group, a 2-chloro-5-tetradecanamidophenyl group, a 2-chloro-5-[4-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)-butanamido]phenyl group, a 2-chloro-5-[2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido]phenyl group, 2-methoxyphenyl group, a 2-methoxy-5-tetradecyloxycarbonylphenyl group, a 2-chloro-5-(1- ethoxycarbonylethoxycarbonyl)phenyl group, a 2-pyridyl group, a 2-chloro-5-octyloxycarbonyl phenyl group, a 2,4-dichlorophenyl group, a 2-chloro-5-(1-dodecyloxycarbonylethoxycarbonyl)phenyl group, a 2-chlorophenyl group, or a 2-ethoxyphenyl group.
Examples of R₅₄ include a 3-[2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido]benzamido group, a 3-[4-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido]benzamido group, a 2-chloro-5-tetradecanamidoanilino group, a 5-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxyacetamido)benzamido group, a 2-chloro-5-dodecenylsuccinimidoanilino group, a 2-chloro-5-[2-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy)tetradecanamido]anilino group, a 2,2-dimethylpropanamido group, a 2-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)-butanamido group, a pyrrolidino group, or an N,N-dibutylamino group.
Examples of R₅₅ include a 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl group, a 2-chlorophenyl group, a 2,5-dichlorophenyl group, a 2,3-dichlorophenyl group, a 2,6-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl group, a 4-[2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido]phenyl group, or a 2,6-dichloro-4-methane slfonylphenyl group.
Examples of R₅₆ include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a methylthio group, an ethylthio group, a 3-phenylureido group, or a 3-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)propyl group.
Examples of R₅₇ include a 3-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)propyl group, a 3-[4-{2-[4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfo- nyl)phenoxy]tetradecanamido}phenyl]propyl group, a methoxy group, a methylthio group, an ethylthio group, a methyl group, a 1-methyl-2-{2-octyloxy-5-[2-octyloxy-5-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl-sulfonamido]-phenylsulfonamido}ethyl group, a 3-[4-(4-dodecyloxyphenylsulfonamido)phenyl]propyl group, a 1,1-dimethyl-2-[2-octyloxy-5-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenylsulfonamido]ethyl group, or a dodecylthio group.
Examples of R₅₈ include a 2-chlorophenyl group, a pentafluorophenyl group, a heptafluoropropyl group, a 1-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)propyl group, a 3-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)propyl group, a 2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxymethyl group, or a furyl group.
Examples of R₅₉ include a chlorine atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, an isopropyl group, a 2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido group, a 2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)hexanami- do group, a 2-(2,4-di-tert-octylphenoxy)octanamido group, a 2-(2-chlorophenoxy)tetradecanamido group, a 2-[4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy]tetradecanamido group, or a 2-[2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxyacetamido)phenoxy]butanamido group.
Examples of R₆₀ include a 4-cyanophenyl group, 2-cyanophenyl group, a 4-butylsulfonylphenyl group, a 4-propylsulfonylphenyl group, a 4-chloro-3-cyanophenyl group, a 4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl group, or a 3,4-dichlorophenyl group.
Examples of R_s1 include a dodecyl group, a hexadecyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 3-(2,4-di-tert-amyl- phenoxy)propyl group, a 4-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butyl group, a 3-dodecyloxypropyl group, a tert-butyl group, a 2-methoxy-5-dodecyloxycarbonylphenyl group, or a 1-naphthyl group.
Examples of R₆₂ include an isobutyloxycarbonylamino group, an ethoxycarbonylamino group, a phenyl- sulfonylamino group, a methanesulfonamido group, a benzamido group, a trifluoroacetamido group, a 3-phenylureido group, a butoxycarbonylamino group, or an acetamido group.
Examples of R₆₃ include a 2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxyacetamido group, a 2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butanamido group, a hexadecylsulfonamido group, an N-methyl-N-octadecylsulfamoyl group, an N,N-dioctylsulfa- moyl group, a 4-tert-octylbenzoyl group, a dodecyloxycarbonyl group, a chlorine atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an N-[4-(2,4-di-tert-amylphemoxy)butyl]carbomoyl group, an N-3-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)propylsulfamoyl group, a methanesulfonyl group, or a hexadecylsulfonyl group.
When A represents an oxidation reduction group in the general formula (I), the group is specifically represented by the following general formula (II):
wherein P and Q each represents an oxygen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted imino group; at least one of the n X and Y's represents a methine group having the group -(L₁)_a-(L₂)_b-Z as a substituent, and other X and Y's which are not such a substituent each represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group or a nitrogen atom; n represents an integer from 1 to 3 (n X's and n Y's may be the same or different); A₁ and A₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a group capable of being eliminated with an alkali; or any two substituents of P, X, Y, Q, A₁ and A₂ may be divalent groups and connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.
Suitable examples of the cyclic structure include a benzene ring or a pyridine ring, formed by (X=Y)_n.
When P and Q each represents a substituted or unsubstituted imino group, an imino group substituted with a sulfonyl group or an acyl group is preferred.
In such a case, P or Q is represented by the following general formula (N-1) or (N-2):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to A₁ or A₂; the bond indicted by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to one of the free bonds of -(X=Y)_n-; and G represents an aliphatic group containing from 1 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, which may be straight chain, branched chain, cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or substituted or unsubstituted (for example, methyl, ethyl, benzyl, phenoxybutyl or isopropyl), a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms (for example, phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 1-naphthyl or 4-dodecyloxyphenyl) ora 4-membered to 7-membered heterocyclic group containing as a hetero atom a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom (for example, 2-pyridyl, 1-phenyl-4-imidazolyl, 2-furyl or benzothienyl).
In general formula (II), P and Q each preferably represents an oxygen atom or a group represented by general formula (N-1).
When A₁ and A₂ each represents a group capable of being eliminated with an alkali (hereinafter referred to as a precursor group), preferred examples of the precursor groups include a hydrolyzable group, for example, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group and a sulfonyl group; a precursor group of the type utilizing a reverse Michael reaction as described in US-A-4,009,029; a precursor group of the type utilizing an anion generated after a ring cleavage reaction as the intramolecular nucleophilic group as described in US-A-4,310,612; a precursor group utilizing the electron transfer of an anion via a conjugated system whereby a cleavage reaction occurs as described in US-A-3,674,478, US-A-3,932,480 and US-A-3,993,661; a precursor group utilizing the electron transfer of an anion reacted after a ring cleavage reaction whereby a cleavage reaction occurs as described in US-A-4,335,200, or a precursor group utilizing an imido- methyl group as described in US-A-4,363,865 and US-A-4,410,618.
In general formula (II), it is preferred that P represents an oxygen atom and A₂ represents a hydrogen atom.
It is more preferred that in general formula (II), X and Y each represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group other than when X or Y represents a methine group having a group of -(L₁)_a-(L₂)_b-Z as a substituent.
Of the groups represented by general formula (II), those particularly preferred are represented by the following general formulae (III) or (IV):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to -(L₁)a-(L₂)b-Z; P, Q, A₁ and A₂ each has the same meaning as defined in the general formula (II); R₆₄ represents a substituent; q represents an integer of 0, 1, 2 or 3; and when q represents 2 or 3, two or three R₆₄'s may be the same or different, or when two R₆₄'s represent substituents positioned on the adjacent two carbon atoms, they may be divalent groups connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.
Examples of the cyclic structures formed by condensing the benzene ring and another ring include a naphthalene ring, a benzonorbornene ring, a chroman ring, an indole ring, a benzothiophene ring, a quinoline ring, a benzofuran ring, a 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran ring, an indane ring and an indene ring. These rings may further have one or more substituents.
Preferred examples of the substituents represented by R₆₄ and the substituents on the condensed ring described above include R₄₁, a halogen atom, R₄₃0-, R₄₃S-,

a cyano group, or
wherein R₄₁, R₄₃, R₄₄ and R₄₅ each has the same meaning as defined above.
Representative examples of the substituents represented by R₆₄ include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a tert-butyl group, a methoxy group, a methylthio group, dodecylthio group, a 3-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)pro- pylthio group, an N-3-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)propylcarbamoyl group, an N-methyl-N-octadecyloxycarba- moyl group, a methoxycarbonyl group, a dodecyloxycarbonyl group, a propylcarbomoyl group, a hydroxyl group, or an N,N-diotylcarbamoyl group.
Representative examples of the cyclic structure formed by connecting with two R₆₄'s includes a group represented by the following formula:
In general formula (III) or (IV), P and Q each preferably represents an oxygen atom.
In general formula (III) or (IV), A₁ and A₂ each preferably represents a hydrogen atom.
In general formula (I), the groups represented by L₁ and L₂ may or may not be used in the present invention. It is preferred not to use the groups represented by L₁ and L₂. When used, an appropriate group can be selected depending on the purpose. When L₁ and L₂ represents a timing group, suitable examples thereof include known linking groups described below.
(1) A group utilizing a cleavage reaction of hemiacetal.
Examples of these groups include those as described, for example, in US-A-4,146,396, JP-A-60-249148 and JP-A-60-249149 and are represented by the following general formula (T-1):
wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in general formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in general formula (I); W represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or
R₆₅ and R₆₆ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R₆₇ represents a substituent; t represents 1 or 2; and when t represents 2, two
may be the same or different.
Representative examples of the substituents represented by R₆₅, R_ss, or R₆₇ include R₆₉, R₆₉CO-, R₆₉SO₂-,
wherein R₆₉ has the same meaning as defined for R₄₁ above; and R₇₀ has the same meaning as defined for R₄₃ above.
Each of the groups represented by R₆₅,R₆₆ and R₆₇ may also represent a divalent group connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.
Specific examples of groups represented by the general formula (T-1) are set forth below.
(2) A group causing a cleavage reaction utilizing an intramolecular nucleophilic displacement reaction.
Examples of these groups include, for example, the timing groups as described in US-A-4,248,962 and are represented by the following general formula (T-2):
wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in the general formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in the general formula (I); Nu represents a nucleophilic group including, e.g., an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; E represents an electrophilic group which is able to cleave the bond indicated by ** upon a nucleophilic attack of Nu; and Link represents a linking group which connects Nu with E in a stereochemical position capable of causing an intramolecular nucleophilic displacement reaction between Nu and E.
Specific examples of the groups represented by general formula (T-2) are set forth below.
(3) A group causing a cleavage reaction utilizing an electron transfer reaction via a conjugated system.
Examples of these groups include, for example, those as described in US-A-4,409,323 and US-A-4,421,845 and are represented by the following general formula (T-3):
wherein the bond indicated by *, the bond indicated by **, W, R₆₅, R₆₆ and t each has the same meaning as defined in the general formula (T-1) above.
Specific examples of the groups represented by the general formula (T-3) are set forth below.
(4) A group utilizing a cleavage reaction of an ester upon hydrolysis.
Examples of these groups include, for example, those as described in DE-A-2,626,315 and are represented by the following formula (T-4) or (T-5):
wherein the bond indicated by * and the bond indicated by ** each has the same meaning as defined in the general formula (T-1) above.
(5) A group utilizing a cleavage reaction of an iminoketal.
Examples of these groups include, for example, those as described in US-A-4,546,073 and are represented by the following general formula (T-6):
wherein the bond indicated by *, the bond indicated by ** and W each has the same meaning as defined in the general formula (T-1); and R₆₈ has the same meaning as defined for R₆₇ in the general formula (T-1) above.
Specific examples of the groups represented by the general formula (T-6) are set forth below.
In the general formula (I), when L₁ represents a group capable of cleaving (L₂)b-Z upon a reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent after being cleaved from A, the group is specifically a group capable of forming a coupler after being cleaved from A or a group capable of forming an oxidation reduction group after being cleaved from A. Similarly, when L₂ represents a group capable of cleaving Z upon a reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent after being cleaved from A-(L₁)a, the group is specifically a group capable of forming a coupler after being cleaved from A-(L₁)a or a group capable of forming an oxidation reduction group after being cleaved from A-(L₁)a.
Examples of the group forming a coupler include a group which is formed by eliminating a hydrogen atom from a hydroxy group of a phenol type coupler and is connected to A- or A-(L₁)a- at the oxygen atom of the hydroxy group, and a group which is formed by eliminating a hydrogen atom from a hydroxy group of a 5-hy- droxypyrazole which is a tautomer of a 5-pyrazolone type coupler and is connected to A- or A-(L₁)a- at the oxygen atom of the hydroxy group. In these cases, the group forms a phenol type coupler or a 5-pyrazolone type coupler for the first time after being released from A- or A-(L₁)a-. These couplers have (L₂)b-Z or Z at their coupling position.
When L₁ or L₂ represents a group capable of forming a coupler after being released from A- or A-(L₁)a, the group is preferably represented by the following general formula (V), (VI), (VII) or (VIII):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in the general formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in the general formula (I): V₁ and V₂ each represents a substituent; V₃, V₄, V₅ and V₆ each represents a nitrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted methine group; V₇ represents a substituent; X represents an integerfrom 0 to 4, when X represents 2 or more, two ore more V₇'s may be the same or different, or two V₇'s may be connected with each other to form a cyclic structure; V₈ represents CO-, -SO₂-, an oxygen atom or a substituted imino group; V₉ represents a group of non-metal atoms necessary to form a 5-membered to 8-membered ring together with
and V₁₀ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; or V₁ and V₂ each may represent a divalent group connected with each other to form a 5-membered to 8-membered ring together with
V₁ preferably represents R₇₁.
V₂ preferably represents R₇₂, R₇₂CO-,
R₇₂SO₂-, R₇₂S-, R₇₂0- or
Suitable examples of the ring structure formed by connecting V₁ with V₂ include an indene ring, an indole ring, a pyrazole ring and a benzothiophene ring.
When V₃, V₄, V₅ or V₆ represents a substituted methine group, examples of preferred substituents include R₇₁, R₇₃0-, R₇₁S- and R₇₁CONH-.
V₇ preferably represents a halogen atom, R_71' R₇₁CONH-, R₇₁SO₂NH-, R₇₃0- R₇₁S-,
R₇₁CO- and R₇₃00C-.
Suitable examples of the ring structure formed by connecting plural V₇'s with each other include a naphthalene ring, a quinoline ring, an oxyindole ring, a benzodiazepin-2,4-dione ring, a benzimidazol-2-one ring and a benzothiophene ring.
When V₈ represents a substituted imino group, a preferred group is a group of R₇₃-
.
Preferred ring structures formed by V₉ together with
include an indole ring, imidazolinone ring, a 1,2,5-thiadiozolin-1,1-dioxide ring, a 3-pyrazolin-5-one ring, a 3-isooxazolin-5-one ring and
Preferred examples of V₁₀ include R₇₃, R₇₃0-,
and R₇₁S-.
In the above described formulae, R₇₁ and R₇₂ each represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; and R₇₃, R₇₄ and R₇₅ each represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. The aliphatic group, aromatic group and heterocyclic group each has the same meaning as defined for R₄₁ above, but the total number of carbon atoms included therein is preferably not more than 10.
Representative examples of groups represented by general formula (V) are set forth below.
Representative examples of the groups represented by general formula (VI) are set forth below.
Representative examples of the groups represented by general formula (VII) are set forth below.
Representative examples of groups represented by general formula (VIII) are set forth below.
In general formula (I), when the group represented by L₁ or L₂ is a group capable of forming an oxidation reduction group after being released from A- or A-(L₁)_a, the group is preferably represented by the following general formula (IX):
wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in general formula (I); A2', P', Q' and n' are as A₂, P, Q and n defined in general formula (II); at least one of the n' X' and Y's represents a methine group having the group -(L₂)b-Z or -Z as in general formula (I) as a substituent, and other X' and Y's each represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group ora a nitrogen atom; or any two substituents of A2', P', Q', X' and Y' may be divalent groups connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.
Suitable examples of the cyclic structure include a benzene ring or a pyridine ring.
In general formula (IX), P' preferably represents an oxygen atom and Q' preferably represents an oxygen atom or one of or the following groups:
wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to (X' = Y')_n'; the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to A2'; and G' has the same meaning as G defined in the general formula (N-1) or (N-2).
It is particularly preferred that Q' represents an oxygen atom or
Of the groups represented by general formula (IX), particularly preferred groups are those represented by the following general formula (X) or (XI):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side of L₁ or L₂ in general formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side in the general formula (I); R₇₆ has the same meaning as R64 defined in the general formula (III) or (IV); and y represents an integer from 0 to 3, and when y represents 2 or more, two or more R₇₆'s may be the same or different, or two R₇₆'s may be connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.
Particularly preferred examples of the substituents represented by R₇₆ include an alkoxy group (for example, methoxy, ethoxy), an acylamino group (for example, acetamido, benzamido), a sulfonamido group (for example, methanesulfonamido, benzenesulfonamido), an alkylthio group (for example, methylthio, ethylthio), a carbamoyl group (for example, N-propylcarbamoyl, N-tert-butylcarbamoyl, N-isopropylcarbamoyl), an alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, methoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl), an aliphatic group (for example, methyl, tert-butyl), a halogen atom (for example, fluorine, chlorine), a sulfamoyl group (for example, N-propylsulfamoyl, sulfamoyl), an acyl group (for example, acetyl, benzoyl), a hydroxy group, and a carboxy group.
Representative examples of the cyclic structure formed by connecting with two R₇₆'s includes a group represented by the following formula:
wherein the bond indicated by * and the bond indicated by** each has the same meaning as defined in the general formula (XI) above.
In the general formula (I ), the group represented by Z is a group represented by formula (XII), (XIII) or (XIV). It is preferred that the group Z is connected to A-(L₁)_a-(L₂)_b- in the general formula (I) through a hetero atom which can be substituted present in its molecule.
It is preferred that when R₃₃, R34 and R₃₅ each represents an aliphatic group, the aliphatic group has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
The aliphatic group represented by R₃₁, R₃₂, R₃₃, R₃₄ or R₃₅ may be a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group. Although an unsubstituted aliphatic group is preferred, suitable examples of substituents for the aliphatic group include, for example, a halogen atom (for example, fluorine, chlorine, bromine), an alkoxy group (for example, methoxy, ethoxy), and an alkylthio group (for example, methylthio, ethylthio).
The aromatic group represented by X₂ or R₃₂ may be substituted. Suitable examples of the substituent(s) include those as illustrated for the aliphatic group above.
The heterocyclic group represented by X₃ or R₃₂ may be a saturated or unsaturated, or substituted or unsubstituted heterocylic group containing an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom as a hetero atom and include, for example, a pyridine ring, an imidazole ring, a piperidine ring, an oxirane ring, a sulfolane ring, an imidazolidine ring, a thiazepine ring and a pyrazole ring. Suitable example of the substituents include these as illustrated for the aliphatic group above.
Specific examples of the group represented by the general formula (XII) are set forth below.
Specific examples of the group represented by the general formula (XIII) are set forth below.
Specific examples of the group represented by the general formula (XIV) are set forth below.
The compound represented by the general formula (I) according to the present invention includes these where the compound is a bis compound, a telomer, or a polymer. For instance, in the case of a polymer, the compound may be a polymer derived from a monomer represented by the general formula (XV) described below and having a recurring unit represented by the general formula (XVI) described below or may be a copolymer of the above described monomer and at least one non-color forming monomer containing at least one ethylene group which does not have the ability of coupling with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine developing agent. In this case, two or more kinds of the monomer represented by the general formula (XV) may be simultaneously polymerized.

wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a chlorine atom; All represents -CONH-, -NHCONH-, -NHCOO-, -COO-, -SO₂-, -CO-, -NHCO-, -S0₂NH-, -NHS0₂-, - OCO-, -OCONH-, -NH- or -0-; A12 represents -CONH- or -COO-; A₁₃ represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group.
The alkylene group may be a straight chain or branched chain alkylene group. Suitable examples of the alkylene group include a methylene group, a methylmethylene group, a dimethylmethylene group, a dimethylene group, a trimethylene group, a tetramethylene group, a pentamethylene group, a hexamethylene group and a decylmethylene group. Suitable examples of the aralkylene group include a benzilidene group. Suitable examples of the arylene group include a phenylene group and a naphthylene group.
QQ in the above described general formulae represents a residue of the compound represented by general formula (I) and may be bonded through any moiety of the substituents described above except of the substituent represented by Z.
Further, i, j, and k each represents 0 or 1 excluding the case that i, j, and k are simultaneously 0.
Examples of the substituent for the alkylene group, aralkylene group or arylene group represented by A₁₃ include an aryl group (for example, phenyl), a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group (for example, methoxy), an aryloxy group (for example, phenoxy), an acyloxy group (for example, acetoxy), an acylamino group (for example, acetylamino), a sulfonamido group (for example, methanesulfonamido), a sulfamoyl group (for example, methylsulfamoyl), a halogen atom (for example, fluorine, chlorine, or bromine), a carboxy group, a carbomoyl group (for example, methylcarbamoyl), an alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, methoxycarbonyl) and a sulfonyl group (for example, methylsulfonyl). When the group represented by A₁₃ has two or more substituents, they may be the same or different.
Suitable examples of the non-color forming ethylenic monomer which does not cause coupling with the oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine developing agent include an acrylic acid such as, e.g., acrylic acid, a-chloroacrylic acid and a-alkylacrylic acid, an ester or amide derived from an acrylic acid, a methylenebisacrylamide, a vinyl ester, an acrylonitrile, an aromatic vinyl compound, a maleic acid derivative and a vinylpyridine. In this case, two or more of such non-color forming ethylenically unsaturated monomers can be used together.
In the general formula (I), any two groups represented by A, L_1' L₂, and Z may have a bond in addition to the bond represented in general formula (I) and may be connected with each other. In such cases, even when the second bond is not cleaved at the time of development, the effect of the present invention can be achieved. Examples of compounds including such second bond are represented by the following general formula:

wherein A, L_1' L₂, a and b each has the same meaning as defined in general formula (I) above.
Particularly preferred examples of the above described compounds include these represented by the following general formula (XVII):
wherein L₂, b, Z, R₅₈ and R₅₉ each has the same meaning as earlier defined; h and V each represents 0 or 1; and A₁₄ represents a divalent organic group necessary to form a 5-membered to 8-membered ring.
Specific examples of the divalent group represented by A₁₄ include -O-CH
,

and -S-CH
.
Specific examples of compounds capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent used in the present invention are set forth below.
In addition, the compounds as described, for example, in Research Disclosure, No. 24241, ibid., No. 11449, JP-A-61-201247, Japanese Patent Application Nos. 61-252847, 61-268870 and 61-268871 can also be employed.
The compounds capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent used in the present invention can be easily prepared according to the descriptions of the patent specifications mentioned above.
The amount of the compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent according to the present invention added to the photographic light-sensitive material is preferably from 1x10^-7 mol to 1x10^-10 mol, particularly preferably from 1x10-^s to 5x10-² mol, per m² of the photographic light-sensitive material.
The compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent according to the present invention can be added to any layer of the photographic light-sensitive material, but preferably to a light-sensitive emulsion layer. Adding the compound to more light-sensitive emulsion layers leads to more remarkable effects of the present invention.
The silver halide color photographic material which can be used in the present invention will now be described.
In the emulsion layers of the light-sensitive material used in the present invention, any of silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, silver chloride and silver chloroiodide may be used as the silver halide other than the silver halide emulsion according to the present invention. A particularly preferred silver halide is silver iodobromide.
Silver halide grains in the photographic emulsion may have a regular crystal structure, for example, a cubic, octahedral or tetradecahedral structure, an irregular crystal structure, for example, a spherical structure, a crystal defect, for example, a twin plane , or a composite structure thereof. Further, a mixture of grains having various crystal structures may be employed.
The silver halide emulsion may be a monodispersed emulsion having a narrow grain size distribution or a polydispersed emulsion having a broad grain size distribution.
Moreover, tabular silver halide grains such as those having an aspect ratio of 5 or more can be employed in the emulsion layers.
The crystal structure of the silver halide grains used in the emulsion layers may be uniform, composed of different halide compositions between the inner portion and the outer portion, or may have a stratified structure. Examples of such emulsion grains are described, for example, in GB-B-1,047,146, US-A-3,505,068 and US-A-4,444,877, and JP-A-58-248469.
Further, silver halide emulsions in which silver halide grains having different compositions are connected upon epitaxial junctions or silver halide emulsions in which silver halide grains are connected with compounds other than silver halide such as, e.g., silver thiocyanate and lead oxide may also be employed.
With respect to the site of latent image formation, either grains in which latent images are formed mainly on the surface thereof or internal latent image type grains in which latent images are formed mainly in the interior thereof can be employed. Further, silver halide grains whose interior has been chemically sensitized may be employed.
The silver halide photographic emulsion used in the present invention can be prepared using appropriately known methods, for example, those as described in Research Disclosure, Vol. 176, No. 17643 (December 1978), page 22 to 23, "I. Emulsion Preparation and Types" and ibid., Vol. 187, No. 18716 (November 1979), page 658.
In the preparation of photographic emulsion, various silver halide solvents (for example, ammonia, potassium thiocyanate, and thioethers and thione compounds as described in US-A-3,271,157, JP-A-51-12360, JP-A-53-82408, JP-A-53-144319, JP-A-54-100717 and JP-1-54-155828 can be used.
Representative monodispersed emulsions are those comprising silver halide grains having an average grain diameter of about 0.1 f..lm or more and at least about 95% by weight of the total silver halide grains have a diameter within the range of ±40% of the average grain diameter. In the present invention, it is possible to employ a monodispersed emulsion comprising silver halide grains having an average grain diameter of from about 0.25 µm to 2 µm and at least about 95% by weight or by number of particles of the total silver halide grains have a diameter within the range of ±20% of the average grain diameter.
During the step of formation or physical ripening of the silver halide grains, e.g., cadmium salts, zinc salts, lead salts, thallium salts, iridium salts or complex salts thereof, rhodium salts or complex salts thereof, iron salts or complex salts thereof may be present.
The photographic emulsions used in the present invention are usually subject to, after physical ripening, chemical ripening and spectral sensitization. Various kinds of additives which can be employed in these steps are described, for example, in Research Disclosure, No. 18743 (December 1978) and ibid., No. 18716 (November 1979) as mentioned above and relevant parts thereof are summarized in the table shown below.
Further, known photographic additives which can be used in the present invention are also described in the above mentioned Research Disclosure, No. 17643 (Dec. 1978) and ibid., No. 18716 (Nov. 1979) and relevant parts thereof are summarized in the table shown below.
In the color photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention, various known spectral sensitizers can be employed together, as well as the above described spectral sensitizers.
In the present invention, various color couplers can be employed and specific examples thereof are described, for example, in the patents cited in Research Disclosure, No. 18743, "VII-C" to "VII-G" as mentioned above. As dye forming couplers, couplers capable of providing the three primary colors (i.e., yellow, magenta and cyan) in a subtractive process upon color development are important. Specific examples of preferred diffusion-resistant, four-equivalent or two-equivalent couplers are described in the patents cited in Research Disclosure, No. 17643, "VII-C" and "VII-D" as mentioned above. In addition, couplers as described below are preferably employed in the present invention.
As typical yellow couplers used in the present invention, known yellow couplers of the oxygen atom releasing type and known yellow couplers of the nitrogen atom releasing type can be exemplified. a-Pivaloyla- cetanilide type couplers are characterized by excellent fastness, particularly light fastness, of the dyes formed, and the a-benzoylacetanilide type couplers are characterized by providing high color density.
As magenta couplers used in the present invention, hydrophobic 5-pyrazolone type couplers and pyrazoloazole type couplers each having a ballast group may be employed. Of the 5-pyrazolone type couplers, those substituted with an arylamino group or an acylamino group at the 3-position thereof are preferred in view of hue and color density of dyes formed therefrom.
As cyan couplers used in the present invention, hydrophobic and diffusion-resistant naphthol type and phenol type couplers can be exemplified. Typical examples preferably include oxygen atom releasing type two-equivalent naphthol type couplers.
Cyan couplers capable of forming cyan dyes fast to humidity and temperature are preferably used in the present invention. Typical examples thereof include the phenol type cyan couplers having an alkyl group higher than a methyl group at the meta-position of the phenol nucleus as described in US-A-3,772,002, 2,5-diacylamino-substituted phenol type couplers, phenol type couplers having a phenolureido group at the 2-position thereof and an acylamino group at the 5-position thereof, and 5-aminonaphthol type cyan couplers as described in EP-A-161,626.
Further, couplers capable of forming appropriately diffusible dyes can be used together in order to improve graininess. Specific examples of such types of magenta couplers are described, for example, in US-A-4,336,237, and those of yellow, magenta and cyan couplers are described, for example, in EP-B-96,570.
Dye forming couplers and special couplers as described above may form polymers including dimers or more. Typical examples of polymer dye forming couplers are described, for example, in US-A-3,451,820. Specific examples of polymer magenta couplers are described, for example, in US-A-4,367,282.
Couplers capable of releasing a photographically useful group during the course of coupling can also be employed preferably in the present invention. Specific examples of useful DIR couplers capable of releasing a development inhibitor are described, for example, in the patents cited in Research Disclosure, NO. 17643, "VII-F" described above.
A DIR coupler is a compound which can release a development inhibitor releasing compound upon reaction with the oxidation product of the developing agent during development. Generally, the development inhibitor is adsorbed on the silver, which causes to retard the desilvering.
As the intensive study of the present inventors, it was found that when to a multilayer color photogrpahic material which uses the high iodide content emulsion was added the DIR coupler in an amount of 1 mol% or more, 2 mol% or more, on particularly 3 mol% or more per all silver amount coated, desilverization was remarkably deteriorated though sharpness and color reproducibility are generally improved. In order to resolve the problem, it was found that the co-use of the compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent according to the present invention is particularly preferred. It is not anticipated by the conventional techniques.
It is preferred that a photographic material of the present invention further uses the DIR coupler represented by formula (Y).
In the formula, A denotes a coupler radical group which eliminates
by means of the coupling reaction with the oxidation product of the primary aromatic amine developing agent, TIME denotes a timing group which bonds to the active coupling position in A and which releases B after separation from A due to the coupling reaction, B denotes a group represented by general formulae (Ila), (IIb), (IIc), (lid), (lie), (Ilf), (IIg), (IIh), (Ili), (IIj), (Ilk), (lIf), (IIm), (IIn), (IIo), or (lip) mentioned below, and n denotes an integer equal to 0 or 1, with the condition that when n is 0, B is directly bonded to A.
In the formulae, X₁ is chosen from a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms (the substituent group is chosen from an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydroxyl group, an acylamine group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, an amino group, an acyloxy group, a cyano group, a ureido group, an acyl group, a halogen atom, or an alkylthio group. The number of carbon atoms contained in this substituent group is 3 or less), or a substituted phenyl group (the substituent group is chosen from a hydroxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, an acyloxy group, a ureido group, a carboxyl group, a cyano group, a nitro group, an amino group, or an acyl group. The carbon atoms contained in such substituted group number is 3 or less). X₂ denotes a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, an acyloxy group, a ureido group, a cyano group, a nitro group, an amino group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aryloxycarbonyl group or an acyl group; X₃ is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or an imino group with 4 or less carbon atoms, and m denotes an integer equal to 1 or 2, with the proviso that the number m of carbon atoms contained in X₂ is 8 or less, and when m is 2, two X₂ groups may be the same or may be different.
The compounds shown in general formula (Y) are discussed in detail below.
Coupler residual groups which form dyes (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan) by means of a coupling reaction with the oxidized form of the primary aromatic amine developer, and coupler radicals which give coupling reactants with essentially no absorption in the visible light region are included as the coupler radicals represented by A in general formula (Y).
As the yellow color image forming coupling radical denoted by A, there may be mentioned the pivaloyla- cetanilide group, benzoylacetanilide group, malonic acid diester group, malondiamide group, dibenzoylme- thane group, benzothiazolylacetamide group, malonic acid ester monoamide group, benzothiazolyl acetate group, benzoxazolylacetamide group, benzoxazolyl acetate malonic acid diester group, benzimidazolylaceta- mide group, or benzimidazolyl acetate groups as coupler radicals, coupler radicals derived from hetero ring-substituted acetamide or hetero ring-substituted acetate as in US-A-3,841,880, or coupler radicals derived from acylacetamides as in US-A-3,770,446, GB-B-1,459,171, DE-A-2503099, JP-A-50-139738, or as reported in Research Disclosure, No. 15737, or the hetero ring coupler radicals reported in US-A-4,046,574.
Coupler radicals which possess a 5-oxo-2-pyrazoline nucleus, a pyrazolo[1,5-a]benzimidazole nucleus, a pyrazoloimidazole nucleus, a pyrazolotriazole nucleus, a pyrazolotetrazole nucleus, or a cyanoacetophenone- based coupler radical are preferred as the magenta color image forming coupler radical represented by A.
Coupler radicals which possess a phenol nucleus or an a-naphthol nucleus are preferred as the cyan color image forming coupler represented by A.
Furthermore, the effect of a coupler which releases a developer inhibitor after coupling with the oxidant which is the principal developer ingredient is essentially the same as that of a DIR coupler which also forms no dye.
As the form of coupler radical denoted by A there may be mentioned the coupler radicals reported in, for example, US-A-4,052,213, US-A-4,088,491, US-A-3,632,345, US-A-3,958,993, and US-A-3,961,959.
The following are mentioned as desirable radicals for TIME in general formula (Y):

(1) Groups utilizing a hemiacetal cleavage reaction, as reported in US-A-4,146,396, JP-A-59-106223, JP-A-59-106224 and JP-A-59-75475, or groups denoted by the following general formula:
In the formula, * denotes the position which bonds with the coupling position of A, R₁ and R₂ denote hydrogen atoms or substituent group, and n denotes 1 or 2; when n is 2, two R₁ and R₂'s may be the same or different, or optionally there may be ring formation by bonding between two of the R₁ and R2's. B denotes the group defined in general formula (Y).
(2) Agroup utilizing an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction to bring about a cleavage reaction: e.g., the timing group as reported in US-A-4,248,962.
(3) A group utilizing an electron transfer reaction along a conjugate series to bring about a cleavage reaction: e.g., the group reported in US-A-4,409,323 or groups of the general formula mentioned below (groups reported in GB-B-2,096,783 A).
In the formula, * denotes the position which bonds with the coupling position of A, R₃ and R₄ denote hydrogen atoms or substituent groups, and B denotes the groups defined in general formula (Y). Examples of R₃ are alkyl groups with 1 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, benzyl, dodecyl) or aryl groups with 6 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., phenyl, 4-tetradecyloxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 2,5-dichlorophenyl, 4-carboxyphenyl, p-tolyl,); examples of R₄ are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with 1 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, undecyl, pentadecyl), an aryl group with 6 to 36 carbon atoms (e.g., phenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl), a cyano group, an alkoxy group with 1 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, dodecyloxy), an amino group with 0 to 36 carbon atoms (e.g., amino, dimethylamino, piperidino, dihexylamino, anilino), a carboxamide group with 1 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., acetamido, benzamide, tetradecanamido), a sulfonamido group with 1 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., methylsulfonamido, phenylsulfonamido), a carboxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group with 2 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., methoxycarbonyl, ethoxydicarbonyl, dodecyloxycarbonyl), or a carbamoyl group with 1 to 24 carbon atoms (e.g., carbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyl, pyrrolidinocarbonyl).

Examples are shown below of the substituent groups X₁, X₂ and X₃ of general formulae (Ila) to (lip).
Examples of X₁ are a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a methoxyethyl group, an ethoxyethyl group, an isobutyl group, an allyl group, a dimethylaminoethyl group, a propargyl group, a chloroethyl group, a methoxycarbonylmethyl group, a methylthioethyl group, a 4-hydroxyphenyl group, a 3-hydroxyphenyl group, a 4-sulfamoylphenyl group, a 3-sulfamoylphenyl group, a 4-carbamoylphenyl group, a 3-carbamoylphenyl group, a 4-dimethylaminophenyl group, a 3-acetamidophenyl group, a 4-propanamidophenyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group, a 2-hydroxyphenyl group, a 2,5-dihydroxyphenyl group, a 3-methoxycarbonylaminophenyl group, a 3-(3-methylureido)phenyl group, a 3-(3-ethylureido)phenyl group, a 4-hydroxyethoxyphenyl group and a 3-acetamido-4-methoxyphenyl group; examples of X₂ are: a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a benzyl group, an n-propyl group, an i-propyl group, an n-butyl group, an i-butyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a fluoro group, a chloro group, a bromo group, an iodo group, a hydroxymethyl group, a hydroxyethyl group, a hydroxy group, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, an allyloxy group, a benzyloxy group, a methylthio group, an ethylthio group, a methoxycarbonyl group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, an acetamido group, a propanamido group, a butanamido group, an octanamido group, a benzamido group, a dimethylcarbamoyl group, a methylsulfonyl group, a methylsulfonamido group, a phenylsulfonamido group, a dimethylsulfamoyl group, an acetoxy group, a ureido group, a 3-methylureido group, a cyano group, a nitro group, an amino group, a dimethylamino group, a methoxycarbonylamino group, an ethoxycarbonylamino group, a phenoxycarbonyl group, a methoxyethyl group and an acetyl group; examples of X₃ are: a hydrogen atom, a sulfuratom, an imino group, a methylimino group, an ethylimino group, a propylimino group and an allylimino group.
Among the groups denoted by general formulae (Ila) to (lip), the groups denoted by general formulae (Ila), (llb), (IIi),(IIj), (Ilk) or (lIf) are preferable, and moreover those denoted by general formulae (Ila), (Ili), (Ilj) or (Ilk) are particularly preferable.
Specific examples are given below of the group denoted by B in general formula (Y).
The couplers according to the present invention are generally used in a mixture with the principal coupler. With respect to the principal coupler, the couplers employed in the present invention are added in a proportion of 0.1 mol% to 100 mol%, and preferably 1 mol% to 50 mol%. The amount of the couplers utilized with respect to the silver halide is 0.01 mol% to 20 mol%, preferably 0.5 mol% to 10 mol%, with respect to the silver halide present in the same layer or in an adjacent layer.
Furthermore, the effects of the present invention are particularly evident when A in general formula (Y) is a coupler radical denoted by the following general formulae (Cq-1), (Cq-2), (Cq-3), (Cq-4), (Cq-5), (Cq-6), (Cq-7), (Cq-8), (Cq-9), (Cq-10), or (Cq-11). These couplers, having a high coupling rate, are preferable.
In the above formulae, the free bonds derived from the coupling position denote bonding positions of coupling elimination groups. In the above formulae, when R₅,, R₅₂, R₅₃, R₅₄ R₅₅, R₅₆, R₅₇, R₅₈, R₅₉, R₆₀ or R₆₁. contain groups which are fast to diffusion, the total number of carbon atoms is selected to be 8 to 32, and preferably 10 to 22; in other cases, the total number of carbon atoms is preferably 15 or less.
Now, R₅₁ to R₆₁, f, m and p of general formulae (Cq-1) to (Cq-11) will be explained.
In the formula, R₅₁ denotes an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, an alkoxy group or a heterocyclic group, and R₅₂ and R₅₃ denote respectively aromatic groups or heterocyclic groups.
In the formula, the aliphatic groups denoted by R₅₁ preferably have 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and may be substituted or unsubstituted, linear or cyclic. The preferred substituent groups for the alkyl group are an alkoxy group, an amino group, an acylamino group and a halogen atom; and these may themselves have substituents. Specific examples of useful aliphatic groups for R₅₁ are as follows: an isopropyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group, an isoamyl group, a tert-amyl group, a 1,1-dimethylbutyl group, a 1,1-dimethylhexyl group, a 1,1-diethylhexyl group, a dodecyl group, a hexadecyl group, an octadecyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 2-me- thoxyisopropyl group, a 2-phenoxyisopropyl group, a 2-p-tert-butylphenoxyisopropyl group, an a-aminoisopropyl group, an a-(diethylamino)isopropyl group, an a-(succinimido)isopropyl group, an a-(phthalimido)isopropyl group and an a-(benzenesulfonamido)isopropyl group.
In the case where R₅,, R₅₂ or R₅₃ represents aromatic groups (particularly phenyl groups), the aromatic group may be substituted. Phenyl and other such aromatic groups may be substituted with an alkenyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aliphatic amido group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, an alkylsulfonamido group, an alkylureido group, an alkyl-substituted succinimido group, or other such group having up to 32 carbon atoms; in these cases, the alkyl group may also have a phenylene or similar aromatic group interposed in the chain. The phenyl group may also be substituted with, e.g., an aryloxy group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, an arylamido group, an arylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfonamido group and an arylureido group; the aryl group moiety of these substituent groups may also be substituted with one or more alkyl groups having a total number of 1 to 22 carbon atoms.
The phenyl group denoted by R₅,, R₅₂ or R₅₃ may also be substituted by a lower alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms also containing a substituent amino group, hydroxy group, carboxy group, sulfo group, nitro group, cyano group, thiocyano group or halogen atom.
Furthermore, R₅₁, R₅₂ or R₅₃ may denote a phenyl group substituted with another condensed ring, for example, a naphthyl group, a quinolyl group, an isoquinolyl group, a chromanil group, a coumaranyl group or a tetrahydronaphthyl group. These substituent groups may themselves possess substituent groups.
In the case in which R₅₁ denotes an alkoxy group, its alkyl moiety may also represent a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group, alkenyl group, cycloalkyl group or cycloalkenyl group with 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atoms, and these may be substituted with, e.g., a halogen atom, an aryl group or an alkoxy group.
In the cases where R₅₁, R₅₂ or R₅₃ denotes a heterocyclic group, a carbon atom of a carbonyl group of an acyl group in an a-acylacetamido, or a nitrogen atom of an amido group, may be bonded via one of the ring- forming carbon atoms to the respective heterocyclic group. Examples of this kind of heterocyclic group are thiophene, furan, pyran, pyrrole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, indolizine, imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, triazine, thiadiazine and oxazine. These may furthermore possess substituent groups.
R₅₅ in general formula (Cq-3) denotes a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group with 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, hexyl, dodecyl), an alkenyl group (e.g., allyl), a cycloalkyl group (e.g., cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl), an aralkyl group (e.g., benzyl, (3-phenylethyl), a cycloalkenyl group (e.g., cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl); these may also be substituted with, e.g., a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a carboxy group, an alkylthio- carbonyl group, an arylthiocarbonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, an acylamino group, a diacylamino group, a ureido group, a urethane group, a thiourethane group, a sulfonamido group, a heterocyclic group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylthio group, an alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, an anilino group, an N-arylanilino group, an N-alkylanilino group, an N-acylanilino group, a hydroxyl group or a mercapto group.
Furthermore, R₅₅ may also denote an aryl group (e.g., phenyl, a- or (3-naphthyl). The aryl group may also possess one or more substituent groups, for example, it may possess an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, an acylamino group, a diacylamino group, a ureido group, a urethane group, a sulfonamido group, a heterocyclic group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylthio group, an alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, an anilino group, an N-alkylanilino group, an N-arylanilino group, an N-acylanilino group or a hydroxyl group as substituent groups.
Furthermore, R₅₅ may denote a heterocyclic group (forexample, a 5-membered or6-membered hetero ring containing a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom as the hetero atom, a condensed heterocyclic group, a pyridyl group, a quinolyl group, a furyl group, a benzothiazolyl group, an oxazolyl group, an imidazolyl group, a naphthoxazolyl group), a heterocyclic group substituted by means of the substituent groups enumerated with reference to the above-mentioned aryl groups, an aliphatic or aromatic acyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylcarbamoyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, an alkylthiocarbamoyl group or an ar- ylthiocarbamoyl group.
In the formula, R₅₄ denotes any of a hydrogen atom, a straight chain or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group of 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, a cycloalkenyl group (these groups may possess substituents as enumerated above with reference to R₅₅), aryl groups and heterocyclic groups (these groups may possess substituents as enumerated above with reference to R₅₅), an alkoxycarbonyl group (e.g., methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, stearyloxycarbonyl), an aryloxycarbonyl group (e.g., phenoxycarbonyl, naphthoxycarbonyl), an aralkyloxycarbonyl group (e.g., benzyloxycarbonyl), an alkoxy group (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, heptadecyloxy ), an aryloxy group (e.g., phenoxy, tolyloxy), an alkylthio group (e.g., ethylthio, dodecylthio), an arylthio group (e.g., phenylthio, a-naphthylthio), a carboxy group, an acylamino group (e.g., acetylamino, 3-[(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)acetamido]benzamido), a diacylamino group, an N-alky- lacylamino group (e.g., N-methylpropionamido), an N-arylacylamino group (e.g., N-phenylacetamido), a ureido group (e.g., ureido, N-arylureido, N-alkylureido), a urethane group, a thiourethane group, an arylamino group (e.g., phenylamino, N-methylanilino, diphenylamino, N-acetylanilino, 2-chloro-5-tetradecanamidoanilino), an alkylamino group (e.g., n-butylamino, methylamino, cyclohexylamino), a cycloamino group (e.g., piperidino, pyrrolidino), a heterocyclic amino group (e.g., 4-pyridylamino, 2-benzoxazolylamino), an alkylcarbonyl group (e.g., methylcarbonyl), an arylcarbonyl group (e.g., phenylcarbonyl), a sulfonamido group (e.g., alkylsulfonamido, arylsulfonamido), a carbamoyl group (e.g., ethylcarbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyl, N-methylphenylcarba- moyl, N-phenylcarbamoyl), a sulfamoyl group (e.g., N-alkylsulfamoyl, N,N-dialkylsulfamoyl, N-arylsulfamoyl, N-alkyl-N-arylsulfamoyl, N,N-diarylsulfamoyl), a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, and a sulfo group.
In the formula, R₅₆ denotes a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group, an alkenyl group with 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, or a cycloalkenyl group, and these may possess substituents as enumerated above with reference to R₅₅.
Furthermore, R₅₆ may denote an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and these may possess substituents as enumerated above with reference to R₅₅.
In addition, R₅₆ may denote a cyano group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl group, an acylamino group, a diacylamino group, a ureido group, a urethane group, a sulfonamido group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylthio group, an alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, an anilino group, an N-arylanilino group, an N-alkylanilino group, an N-acylanilino group, or a hydroxyl group.
R₅₇, R₅₈ and R₅₉ denote groups used in the usual 4-equivalent form phenol or a-naphthol couplers; more specifically R₅₇ includes a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, an N-arylureido group, an acylamino group, -0-R_s2 or -S-R₆₂ (where R₆₂ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical); where two or more R₅₇ exist in the same molecule, two R₅₇ may be different groups, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon radical may contain substituents.
Further, in the case in which these substituent groups contain aryl groups, the aryl group may possess the substituents enumerated with reference to R₅₅ above.
As R₅₈ and FZ59 there can be mentioned groups chosen from aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, aryl groups and hetero groups, or these may on the other hand be a hydrogen atom, further, some of these groups may possess substituents. Further, R₅₈ and FZ59 may be joined forming a nitrogen atom hetero ring nucleus.
Also, the aliphatic hydrocarbon radical may be either saturated or unsaturated, and straight chain, branched chain, or cyclic. Also, it is preferably an alkyl group (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, cyclobutyl, cyclohexyl), an alkenyl group (e.g., allyl, octenyl). The aryl group is, e.g., a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, further the respective groups: a pyridinyl group, a quinolyl group, a thienyl group, a piperidyl group, an imidazolyl group are representative of the hetero radical. As substituents introduced into these aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, aryl groups and heterocyclic residues, there may be mentioned, e.g., a halogen atom and the various groups: a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a substituted amino group, a sulfo group, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an arylthio group, an arylazo group, an acylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a estergroup, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group and a morpholino group.
f denotes an integer 1 to 4, m an integer 1 to 3, p an integer 1 to 5.
R₆₀ denotes an arylcarbonyl group, an alkanoyl group with 2 to 32, preferably 2 to 22, carbon atoms, an arylcarbamoyl group, an alkanecarbamoyl group with 2 to 32, preferably 2 to 22, carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group with 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atoms, oran aryloxycarbonyl group; these may also possess substituents, and as the substituent groups are: an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acylamino group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, an alkylsulfonamido group, an alkylsuccinimido group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a carboxyl group, a nitrile group, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
R₆₁ denotes an arylcarbonyl group, an alkanoyl group with 2 to 32, preferably 2 to 22, carbon atoms, an aryl group, an alkanecarbamoyl group with 2 to 32, preferably 2 to 22, carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group or an aryloxycarbonyl group with 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atcms, an alkylsulfonyl group with 1 to 32, preferably 1 to 22, carbon atoms, an arylsulfonyl group, an aryl group, a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic group (with the hetero atom chosen from a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, e.g., a triazolyl group, an imidazolyl group, a phthalimido group, a succinimido group, a furyl group, a pyridyl group or a benzotriazolyl group); these may possess substituents as mentioned for R_ro above.
Among the above coupler radicals, as the yellow coupler radical, in general formula (Cq-1), the case where R₅₁ denotes a t-butyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R₅₂ denotes a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and in general formula (Cq-2), the case where R₅₂ and R₅₃ denote a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, are preferred as the yellow coupler radicals.
As the magenta coupler radical there are preferred, in general formula (Cq-3), the case in which R₅₄ denotes an acylamino group, a ureido group and an arylamino group, R₅₅ denotes a substituted aryl group, in general formula (Cq-4), the case in which R₅₄ denotes an acylamino group, a ureido group and an arylamino group, and R₅₆ denotes a hydrogen atom, and, in general formulae (Cq-5) and (Cq-6), also the case in which R₅₄ and R₅₆ denote straight chain or branched chain alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aralkyl groups or cycloalkenyl groups.
As the cyan coupler radical there are preferred the case in which, in general formula (Cq-7), R₅₇ denotes a 2-position acylamino group or ureido group, a 5-position acylamino group or alkyl group, and a 6-position hydrogen atom or chlorine atom, and the case in which, in general formula (Cq-9), R₅₇ denotes a 5-position hydrogen atom, acylamino group, sulfonamido group, alkoxycarbonyl group, R₅₈ denotes a hydrogen atom, and furthermore R₅₉ denotes a phenyl group, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group and a cycloalkenyl group.
As the colorless coupler radical there are preferred the cases in which, in general formula (Cq-10), R₅₇ denotes an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, or a sulfamoyl group; and in general formula (Cq-11), R₆₀ and R_s1 denote alkoxycarbonyl groups.
Further, in the various moieties of R₅₁ to R₆₁, dimers and higher polymers may be formed; in the various moieties of these groups, there may also be polymers of monomers which have ethylenically unsaturated groups or polymers with non-color-forming monomers.
When the coupler residual groups according to this invention denote polymers, they signify copolymers of one or more types of non-color-forming monomers which include at least one ethylene group which has no ability to couple with the oxidized form of the primary aromatic amine developer or monomers which contain a recurring unit which can be represented by general formula (Cq-13), derived from a monomer coupler which can be represented by general formula (Cq-12) given below. Here the monomeric coupler may be two or more kinds polymerized simultaneously.

In the above formulae, R denotes a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a chlorine atom; A₁ denotes -CONR'-, -NR'CONR'-, -NR'COO-,-COO-, -SO_z-, -CO-, -NRCO-, -S0₂NR'-, -NR'SO₂-, -OCO-, -OCONR'-, -NR'- or -0-; A₂ denotes -CONR'- or -COO-; R' denotes a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; in the case where there are two or more R in one molecule, they may be the same or different. A3 denotes an unsubstituted or substituted alkylene group (e.g., methylene, ethylmethylene, dimethylmethylene, dimethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, hexamethylene, decylmethylene), an aralkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (e.g., benzylidene), or an unsubstituted or substituted arylene group (e.g., phenylene, naphthylene), the alkylene group can be straight chain or branched chain.
Q denotes a group which is any of the moieties R₅₁ to R₆₁ of general formulae (Cq-1) to (Cq-11) and bonded to general formula (Cq-12) or (Cq-13).
i, j and k denote 0 or 1, but i, j and k are not all simultaneously 0.
Substituent groups on the alkylene group, aralkylene group or arylene group: include an aryl group (e.g., phenyl), 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), an acylamino group (e.g., acetylamino), a sulfonamido group (e.g., methanesulfonamido), a sulfamoyl group (e.g., methylsulfamoyl), a halogen atom (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine), a carboxy group, a carbamoyl group (e.g., methylcarbamoyl), an alkoxycarbonyl group (e.g., methoxycarbonyl), and a sulfonyl group (e.g., methylsulfonyl). Where there are two or more of these substituent groups, they may be the same or different.
Next, as the non-color-forming ethylenic monomer which does not couple with the oxidation product of the primary aromatic amine developer, there are, e.g., an acrylic acid, an a-chloroacrylic acid, an a-alkylacrylic acid, and the esters or amides derived from these acrylic acids, methylenebisacrylamide, vinyl esters, acrylonitrile, aromatic vinyl compounds, maleic acid derivatives and vinylpyridines. Two or more of the non-color-forming ethylenically unsaturated monomers can be utilized at the same time.
Specific examples of the couplers according to the present invention the mentioned below.
These couplers can be synthesized by the methods disclosed in, for example, US-A-4,174,966, US-A-4,183,752, US-A-4,421,845, US-A-4,477,563, and JP-A-54-145135, 57-151944, 57-154234, 57-188035, 58-98728, 58-162949, 58-209736, 58-209737, 58-209738, and 58-209740.
The coupler represented by formula (Y) can be used in any layer such as a high-sensitive layer, a low-sensitive layer and a middle-sensitive layer or an adjacent layer thereof.
The amount of the coupler represented by formula (Y), which depends on its structure and use, is preferably 1 xl 0-7 to 0.5 mol, particularly preferably 1x10-s to 1 × 10^-1 mol per mol of silver in the same layeroradjacent layer.
The coupler represented by formula (Y) may be used singly in a layer or may be used with a known coupler. In the case of using the coupler represented by formula (Y) with other color image-forming coupler, the molar ratio of the coupler represented by formula (Y) and the other coupler is 0.1/99.9 to 90/10, preferably 1/99 to 50/50 (the coupler of formula (Y)/the other coupler).
In the photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention, couplers which imagewise release a nucleating agent, a development accelerator or a precursor thereof at the time of development can also be employed. Specific examples of such compounds are described, for example, in GB-B-2,097,140 and GB-B-2,131,188. Furthermore, DIR redox compound releasing couplers as described, for example, in JP-A-60-185950, couplers capable of releasing a dye which turns to a colored form after being released as described, for example, in EP-A-173,302 can also be employed in the photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention.
The couplers used in the present invention can be introduced into the photographic light-sensitive material according to various known dispersing methods. Specific examples of organic solvents having a high boiling point which can be employed in an oil droplet-in-water type dispersion method are described, for example, in US-A-2,322,027.
The processes and effects of latex dispersing methods and the specific examples of latexes for loading are described, for example, in US-A-4,199,363, DE-A-2,541,274 and DE-A-2,541,230.
The color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention may contain, e.g., hydroquinone derivatives, aminophenol derivatives, amines, gallic acid derivatives, catechol derivatives, ascorbic acid derivatives, non-color-forming couplers and sulfonamidophenol derivatives as colorfog preventing agents or color mixing preventing agents.
In the color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention, known color fading preventing agents can be employed. Typical examples of known color fading preventing agents include hindered phenols, for example, hydroquinones, 6-hydroxychromans, 5-hydroxycoumarans, spirochromans, p-alkoxyphenols and bisphenols, gallic acid derivatives, methylendixybenzenes, aminophenols, hindered amines, or ether or ester derivatives thereof derived from each of these compounds by silylation or alkylation of the phenolic hydroxy group thereof. Further, metal complexes represented by (bis-salicylaldoxymate) nickel complexes and (bis-N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamate) nickel complexes may be employed.
In the color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention, the photographic emulsion layers and other layers are coated on a flexible support such as a plastic film which is ordinarily employed for photographic light-sensitive materials.
In order to coat the photographic emulsion layers and other hydrophilic colloid layers, various known coating methods, for example, a dip coating, roller coating, a curtain coating or extrusion coating can be utilized.
The present invention can be applied to various color photographic light-sensitive materials. Representative examples thereof include color negative films for general use or motion picture use, color reversal films for slide or television uses, color papers, color positive films and color reversal paper.
A color developing solution which can be used in development processing of the color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention is an alkaline aqueous solution preferably containing an aromatic primary amine type developing agent as a main component. As the color developing agent, while an aminophenol type compound is useful, a p-phenylenediamine type compound is preferably employed. Typical examples of the p-phenylenediamine type compounds include 3-methyl-4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyi-N-p-hydroxyethyianiiine, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β--methoxyethylaniline, or sulfate, hydrochloride, phosphate, p-toluenesulfonate, tetraphenylborate or p-(tert-octyl) benzenesulfonate thereof. These diamines are preferably employed in the form of salts since the salts are generally more stable than their free forms.
The aminophenol type derivatives include, for example, o-aminophenol, p-aminophenol, 4-amino-2-methylphenol, 2-amino-3-methylphenol and 2-oxy-3-amino-1,4-dimethylbenzene.
In addition, the compounds as described, for example, in L.F.A. Mason, Photographic Processing Chemistry, Focal Press, pages 226 to 229 (1966), US-A-2,193,015 and US-A-2,592,364 and JP-A-48-64933 may be used.
Two or more kinds of color developing agents may be employed in a combination thereof, if desired.
The color developing solution can further contain pH buffering agents, such as, e.g., carbonates, borates or phosphates of alkali metals; development inhibitors or anti-fogging agents such as, e.g., bromides, iodides, benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles or mercapto compounds; preservatives such as, e.g., hydroxylamine, triethanolamine, the compounds as described in DE-A-2,622,950, sulfites or bisulfites; organic solvents such as, e.g., diethylene glycol; development accelerators such as, e.g., benzyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, quaternary ammonium salts, amines, thiocyanates or 3,6-dithiaoctane-1,8-diol; dye forming couplers; competing couplers; nucleating agents such as, e.g., sodium borohydride; auxiliary developing agents such as, e.g., 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone; viscosity imparting agents; and chelating agents including aminopolycarboxylic acids represented by, e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, cyclohexanediamine-tetraacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, N-hydroxymethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, triethylene- tetraminehexaacetic acid and the compounds as described in JP-A-58-195845, organic phosphonic acids such as 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1'-diphosphonic acid, e.g., those as described in Research Disclosure, No. 18170 (May, 1979), aminophosphonic acids such as aminotris (methylene-phosphonic acid) and ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylene-phosphonic acid, and phosphonocarboxylic acids, e.g., as described in Research Disclosure, No. 18170 (May, 1979).
The color developing agent typically can be used in an amount ranging generally from about 0.1 g to about 30 g, preferably from about 1 g to about 15 g, per I of the color developing solution. The pH of the color developing solution used is usually 7 or more and preferably in a range from about 9 to about 13.
In accordance with the present invention, the silver halide color photographic material is imagewise exposed, subjected to color development processing as described above, and then processed with a processing solution having bleaching ability.
A processing solution having bleaching ability for use in the present invention practically means a processing solution which has the ability to oxidize metal silver formed upon development and colloidal silver contained in the photographic material and convert them to soluble silver salt such as silver thiocyanate complex salt or an insoluble silver salt such as a silver bromide, and includes, for example, a bleaching solution and a bleach-fixing solution. It is preferred in the present invention, that the color photographic material is processed with a processing solution having bleach-fixing ability just after color development.
The bleaching agents which can be used in the processing solution having bleaching ability include oxidizing agents, for example, ferric complexes such as ferricyan iron complex and ferric citrate complex, persulfates and peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide, but preferably aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric complex salts, i.e., the complex salts of ferric ions and aminopolycarboxylic acids or the salts thereof.
Representative examples of these aminopolycarboxylic acids and the salts thereof are set forth below.

(1) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
(2) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid pentasodium salt
(3) Ethylenediamine-N-(¡3-oxyethyl)-N,N',N'-triacetic acid
(4) Ethylenediamine N-(¡3-oxyethyl)-N,N',N'-triacetic acid trisodium salt
(5) Ethylenediamine-N-(¡3-oxyethyl)-N,N',N'-triacetic acid triammonium salt
(6) 1,2-Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid
(7) 1,2-Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid disodium salt
(8) Nitrilotriacetic acid
(9) Nitrilotriacetic acid sodium salt
(10) Cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid
(11) Cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt
(12) N-Methyliminodiacetic acid
(13) Iminodiacetic acid
(14) Dihydroxyethylglycine
(15) Ethyl ether diaminetetraacetic acid
(16) Glycol ether diaminetetraacetic acid
(17) Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
(18) 1,3-Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid
(19) Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Of the above-illustrated compounds, Compounds (1), (2), (6), (7), (10), (11), (12), (16) and (18) are particularly preferred.
The aminopolycarboxylic acid ferric complex salt may be used in the form of a complex salt or may be formed in a solution using a ferric salt such as, e.g., ferric sulfate, ferric chloride, ferric nitrate, ammonium ferric sulfate and ferric phosphate, and an amino-polycarboxylic acid. In the case of using a complex salt, the complex salt may be used solely or as a mixture of two or more complex salts. On the other hand, when the complex salt is formed in a solution using a ferric salt and an aminopolycarboxylic acid, one or more types of ferric salts may be used and also one or more kinds of aminopolycarboxylic acids may be used. Also, in any case, aminopolycarboxylic acid(s) may be used in excess of the amount required for forming the ferric complex salt.
A combination of at least one of the above described ferric (Fe(III)) complex salts of the aminopolycarboxylic acids excluding Compound (19) and the ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid ferric complex salt may be used.
Furthermore, a processing solution having a bleaching ability containing the above described ferric complex salt may further contain a complex salt of a metal ion other than an iron ion, such as, e.g., a cobalt ion, a nickel ion or a copper ion.
The amount of the bleaching agent is generally from 0.1 mol to 1 mol, preferably from 0.2 mol to 0.5 mol per I of the processing solution having bleaching ability. Also, the pH of the bleaching solution is preferably from 4.0 to 8.0, and particularly preferably from 5.0 to 7.5.
The processing solution having bleaching ability used in the present invention usually further contains a rehalogenating agent such as a bromide (for example, potassium bromide, sodium bromide, or ammonium bromide) and a chloride (for example, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, or ammonium chloride) in addition to the bleaching agent and the above described compound. Moreover, the processing solution may contain known additives for conventional bleach fixing solutions, for example, at least one inorganic acid, organic acids or salts thereof having a pH buffering function, such as nitrates (for example, sodium nitrate, or ammonium nitrate), boric acid, borax, sodium metaborate, acetic acid, sodium acetate, sodium carbonte, potassium carbonate, phosphorus acid, phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate, citric acid, sodium nitrate, or tartaric acid.
In the present invention, a fixing bath following the bleaching bath ora processing solution having a bleach-fixing ability may contain a known fixing agent(s) such as, e.g., a thiosulfate (for example, sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, ammonium sodium thiosulfate, or potassium thiosulfate), a thiocyanate (for example, ammonium thiocyanate, or potassium thiocyanate), thiourea and thioether. The addition amount of the fixing agent is preferably about 3 mol or less, particularly preferably 2 mol or less per I of the processing solution having a fixing ability or a bleach-fixing ability.
The processing solution having bleach-fixing ability used in the present invention may further contain a sulfite ion releasing compound such as a sulfite (for example, sodium sulfite, or ammonium sulfite), a bisulfite, or a bisulfite addition product of an aldehyde (for example, carbonyl bisulfite).
Further, the processing solution having bleach-fixing ability may contain the aminopolycarboxylic acid or the salt thereof as shown above as Compounds (1) to (19), or an organic phosphonic acid compound such as, e.g., ethylenediaminetetrakismethylenephosphonic acid, diethylenetriaminepentakismethylenephosphonic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetrakismethylenephosphonic acid, nitro- N,N,N-trimethylenephosphonic acid or 1-hydroxyethyiidene-1,1'-diphosphonic acid.
According to the present invention, the processing solution having bleaching ability can further contain at least one bleach accelerating agent selected from compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide bond, isothiourea derivatives, and thiazolidine derivatives. The amount of the bleach accelerating agent is preferably from 1x10-⁵ to 1 x1 0-1 mol, particularly preferably from 1 x1 0-4 to 5x10-² mol, per I of the processing solution having bleach-fixing ability.
As described, the bleach accelerating agent which can be contained in the processing solution having bleaching ability is selected from compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide bond, thiazolidine derivatives, thiourea derivatives, and isothiourea derivatives each having a bleach accelerating effect. Peferred compounds are those represented by the general formulae (a) to (g) and specific examples thereof as described in JP-A-63-163853 pages 63 to 77.
The bleach accelerating agent described above is generally added to the processing solution having bleaching ability, e.g., as a solution thereof in water, an alkaline aqueous solution, an organic acid or an organic solvent, but the agent may be added as a powder thereof without having any adverse influence on the bleach accelerating effect.
Furthermore, the bleach accelerating agent can be incorporated into the color photographic light-sensitive material in the present invention. In such case, the bleach accelerating agent may be incorporated into any one of the blue-sensitive emulsion layer, the green-sensitive emulsion layer or the red-sensitive emulsion layer of the color photographic material or in another gelatin layer such as the uppermost layer, an intermediate layer or the lowermost layer of the color photographic material.
The processing bath having bleach-fixing ability may be a processing step composed of one processing tank or composed of two or more processing tanks. In the latter case, a multistage countercurrent system may be employed with the supply of a replenisher for the processing solution or the processing solution may be successively circulated through plural tanks and the replenisher may be supplied to one of the plural tanks.
After a desilvering step such as a fixing step or a bleach-fixing step, the silver halide color photographic material according to the present invention is generally subjected to a water washing step and/or a stabilizing step.
An amount of water required for the water washing step may be set in a wide range depending on, for example, characteristics of photographic light-sensitive materials (due to elements used therein, for example, couplers) uses thereof, temperature of washing water, a number of water washing tanks (stages), a replenishment system such as counter current or orderly current, or other various conditions. The relationship between a number of water washing tanks and the amount of water in a multi-stage countercurrent system can be determined based on the method as described in Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Vol. 64, pages 248 to 253 (May, 1955).
According to the multi-stage countercurrent system described in the above literature, the amount of water for washing can be significantly reduced. However, an increase in the residence time of the water in a tank causes propagation of bacteria and some problems such as, e.g., adhesion of scum formed on the photographic materials, occur. In the method of processing the silver halide color photographic material according to the present invention, a method for reducing the amounts of calcium ions and magnesium ions as described in JP-A-62-288838 can be particularly effectively employed in order to solve such problems. Further, sterilizers, for example, isothiazolone compounds as described in JP-A-57-8542, cyabendazoles, chlorine type sterilizers such as, e.g., sodium chloroisocyanurate, benzotriazoles, sterilizers as described in Hiroshi Horiguchi, Bokin Bobai No Kagaku ("Chemistry of Bactericides and Fungicides"), Biseibutsu No Mekkin-, Sakkin-, Bobai-Gijutsu ("Techniques of Sterilization, Pasteurization and Fungicides of Microorganisms"), edited by Eiseigijutsu Kai ("Sanitary technology Society"), and Bokin-Bobaizai Jiten ("Dictionary of Bactericides and Fungicides"), edited by Nippon Bokin-Bobai Gakkai ("Japan Bactericide and Fungicide Society"), can be employed.
The pH of the washing water used in the processing of the photographic light-sensitive materials according to the present invention is usually from 4 to 9, preferably from 5 to 8. The temperature of the washing water and the time for any water washing step can be variously set depending on, e.g., characteristics or uses of the photographic light-sensitive materials. However, it is generally the case that one selects a range of from 15°C to 45°C and a period from 20 s to 10 min and preferably a range of from 25°C to 40°C and a period from 30 s to 5 min.
The photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention can also be directly processed with a stabilizing solution in place of the above-described water washing step. In such a stabilizing process, any known methods as described in JP-A-57-8543, JP-A-58-14834, JP-A-59-184343, JP-A-60-220345, JP-A-60-238832, JP-A-60-239784, JP-A-60-239749, JP-A-61-4054 and JP-A-61-118749 can be employed. A stabilizing bath containing 1-hydroxyethyiidene-1,1-diphosphonicacid, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, a bismuth compound and an ammonium compound is particularly preferably employed.
Further, it is possible to conduct stabilizing process subsequent to the above-described water washing process. One example thereof is a stabilizing process subsequent to the above-described water washing process. One example thereof is a stabilizing bath containing formalin and a surface active agent, which is employed as a final bath in the processing of color photographic light-sensitive materials for photographing.
The present invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the following examples.
Unless specified otherwise, all percents and ratios are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1

Silver halide emulsions A to E were prepared in the manner described below. Emulsion A is a comparative emulsion and Emulsions B to E are high silver iodide content emulsions according to the present invention.
To 1000 ml of a 2% aqueous solution of gelatin containing 0.41 mol of potassium bromide and 0.06 mol of potassium iodide were added (at 60°C with stirring) 800 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.33 mol of silver nitrate over a period of 20 min. After physical ripening for 20 min, 1000 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.67 mol of silver nitrate and 1000 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.67 mol of potassium bromide were added simultaneously over a period of 50 min thereto while maintaining the pAg at 8.6. After desalting, 2x10-⁵ mol of sodium thiosulfate and 4x10-⁵ mol of chloroauric acid were added to the emulsion and the emulsion was chemically sensitized at 60°C for 60 min, whereby a silver iodobromide emulsion having an average grain size of 1.1 f..lm and containing 6 mol % of silver iodide was obtained. This emulsion was designated Emulsion A.
Using a 2% aqueous solution of gelatin containing 0.37 mol of potassium bromide and 0.10 mol of potassium iodide, the basic procedure for the preparation of Emulsion A above was repeated to obtain a silver iodobromide emulsion B having an average grain size of 1.0 µm and containing 10 mol % of silver iodide.
In essentially the same manner, a silver iodobromide emulsion C having an average grain size of 1.0 µm and containing 12 mol % of silver iodide was obtained using a 2% aqueous solution of gelatin containing 0.35 mol of potassium bromide and 0.12 mol of potassium iodide.
In essentially the same manner, a silver iodobromide emulsion D having an average grain size of 1.1 µm and containing 16 mol % of silver iodide was obtained using a 2% aqueous solution of gelatin containing 0.31 mol of potassium bromide and 0.16 mol of potassium iodide.
In essentially the same manner, a silver iodobromide emulsion E having an average grain size of 1.1 µm and containing 19 mol % of silver iodide was obtained using a 2% aqueous solution of gelatin containing 0.28 mol of potassium bromide and 0.19 mol of potassium iodide.
Silver halide emulsion A to E thus prepared were mixed with coupler dispersions obtained by dissolving a comparative coupler and the couplers according to the present invention in an organic solvent having a high boiling point and dispersing using a homogenizer in the combinations as shown in Table 1 below, and coated on a triacetyl cellulose film support provide with a subbing layer to prepare Samples 101 to 115.
Layer Structure:

(1) Emulsion Layer

In addition, a surface active agent, a hardener and tetraazaindene were added thereto.
The compounds which were employed for the preparation of the samples are shown below.

Coupler A:

Sensitizing Dye A:

Samples 101 to 115 thus-obtained were exposed to white light of 20 CMS and then subjected to development processing using processing solutions after running test which was prepared in the manner as described below.
The amount of remaining silver in each sample thus-processed was determined according by X-ray fluo- rometric analysis. The results obtained are shown in Table 1 below.
The samples in which the combination of the silver halide emulsion and the coupler according to the present invention were employed exhibited excellent desilvering property, almost equivalent to that in the case of using a low silver iodide content emulsion.
Further, the samples of the present invention exhibited extremely good graininess. More specifically, the RMS value of the sample processed was measured in order to evaluate graininess. With respect to the RMS value, the description in T.H. James ed., The Theory of the Photographic Process, Fourth Edition, page 619, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. was followed. The samples used for measurement were prepared by processing them according to Processing Step (III) and then again subjected to desilvering to completely desilver. With respect to graininess, no substantial difference was observed between Processing Steps (I), (II) and (III).
Super HR-100 film (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) was used to photograph standard subjects and was subjected to a running test according to Processing Steps (I), (II) or (III) shown below (500 m length). After the running test, Samples 101 to 115 were exposed to white light of 20 CMS and then subjected to development processing according to Processing Step (I) shown below.
The amount of remaining silver in the samples thus-processed was determined according to X-ray fluoro- metric analysis. The results obtained are shown in Table 1 below.
Processing Step (I): [Processing Temperature: 38°C]
In the above processing steps, stabilizing steps (1), (2) and (3) were carried out using a countercurrent stabilizing system of (3) → (2) → (1). The amount of fixing solution carried over to the stabilizing tank was 2 ml per meter of the strip.
The composition of each processing solution used is given below.
Processing Step (II): [Processing Temperature: 38°C]
In the above processing steps, washing with water steps (1) and (2) were carried out using a countercurrent water washing system from Washing with Water (2) to Washing with Water (1).
The composition of each processing solution used is given below.
Bleaching Solution: (both Tank and Replenisher)
Bleach-Fixing Solution: (both Tank and Replenisher)

Washing Water:

City water was used which was passed through a column filled with an Na type strong acidic cation exchange resin (Diaion SK-IB manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd.) to prepare water having water quality of calcium: 2 mg/f and magnesium: 1.2 mg/f was employed.

Stabilizing Solution:

Same as described in Processing Step (I).
Processing Step (III): [Processing Temperature: 38°C]
In the above described processing steps, washing with water steps (1), (2) and (3) were carried out using a three-stage countercurrent washing with water system of (3) → (2) → (1).
The composition of each processing solution used is given below.

Washing Water:

The following three kinds of washing water were employed.

[1] City Water

[2] Ion Exchanged Water

The above described city water was treated with a Na type strong acidic cation exchange resin manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd. to prepare water having the following water quality:

[3] City Water Containing Chelating Agent

To the above described city water, was added disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate in an amount of 500 mg per

EXAMPLE 2

Sample 201:

On a cellulose triacetate film support provided with a subbing layer was coated each layer having the composition set forth below to prepare a multilayer color photographic light-sensitive material which was designated Sample 201.
With respect to the compositions of the layers, coated amounts of silver halide and colloidal silver are shown by g/m² of support of silver, the coated amounts of couplers, additives and gelatin are shown by g/m² of support, and the coated amounts of sensitizing dyes are shown by moles per mol of silver halide present in the same layer.
First Layer: Antihalation Layer
Second Layer: Intermediate Layer
Third Layer: Low- Sensitive Red-Sensitive Emulsion Layer
Fourth Layer: High-Sensitive Red-sensitive Emulsion Layer
Fifth Layer: Intermediate Layer
Sixth Layer: Low-Sensitive Green-Sensitve Emulsion Layer
Seventh Layer: High-Sensitive Green-Sensitve Emulsion Layer
Eighth Layer: Intermediate Layer
Ninth Layer: Donor Layer of Interlayer Effect to Red-Sensitive Layer
Tenth Layer: Yellow Filter Layer
Eleventh Layer: Low-Sensitive Blue-Sensitive Emulsion Layer
Twelfth Layer: High-Sensitive Blue-Sensitive Emulsion Layer
Thirteenth Layer: First Protective Layer
Fourteenth Layer: Second Protective Layer
Each layer described above further contained a stabilizer for emulsion (Cpd-3: 0.04 g/m²) and a surface active agent (Cpd-4: 0.02 g/m²) as a coating aid in addition to the above described compounds.
The compounds used for the preparation of Sample 201 are illustrated below.
Solv-1 Tricresyl phosphate
Solv-2 Dibutyl phthalate

Samples 202 to 215

Samples 202 to 215 were prepared in the same manner as described for Sample 201 except that the silver halide emulsion used in the fourth layer was replaced with each of Emulsions B to E as described in Example 1, Coupler ExC-7 used in the fourth layer was substituted with the coupler according to the present invention, and Coupler ExC-2 used in the third layer was also substituted with the coupler according to the present invention as described in Table 2 below, respectively.
Samples 201 and 215 thus prepared were exposed to white light of 20 CMS and then subjected to development processing according to Processing Steps (I) to (III) with the processing solutions as described in Example 1 (after the running test), except that the bleaching time of Processing Step (I) was changed to 3 min, the bleach-fixing time of Processing Steps (II) was changed to 1 min, and the bleach-fixing time of Processing Step (III) was changed to 3 min, respectively. The amount of remaining silver and the RMS value were determined in the same manner as described in Example 1.
The results obtained are shown in Table 2 below. From the results shown in Table 2, it is apparent that the combination of the silver halide emulsion and the coupler according to the present invention provides remarkably improved graininess and desilvering property.

EXAMPLE 3

Samples 301, 302 and 303 were prepared in the same manner as described for Sample 202 of Example 2 except ExM-8 used in the seventh layer was substituted with an-equimolar amount (calculated as a color forming unit in case of a polymer coupler) of Compound (5), (6) and (44) according to the present invention, respectively.
Further, Sample 304 was prepared in the same manner as described for Sample 202 of Example 2 except ExY-15 used in the twelfth layer was substituted with an equipmolar amount of Compound (18) according to the present invention.
These samples were processed using Processing Steps (I) to (III) as shown in Example 2 and the amount of remaining silver of each sample was determined. The results obtained were almost same as that of Sample 207 in Example 2.

EXAMPLE 4

Samples 401 to 410 were prepared in the same manner as described for Samples 201 to 210 of Example 2 except ExC-2 and ExC-4 used in the third layer were substituted with an equimolar amount (which is a total mole number of ExC-2 and ExC-4) of Comparative Compound (A) and ExY-13 used in the ninth, eleventh, and twelfth layers was substituted with an equimolar amount of Comparative Compound (B), respectively.
These samples were processed using Processing Steps (I) to (III) as shown in Example 1 and the amount of remaining silver of each sample was determined. The results are shown in Table 3 below.
The results show that the remaining silver of Samples 401 to 410 in Processing Steps (I) to (III) is larger than that of Samples 201 to 210, which is particularly remarkable in Samples 406 to 410. The facts shows that the remaining silver changes in the case where the compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent of the present invention is used, depending on the kind of the DIR coupler. A photogrpahic material which is excellent in desilverizibility can be obtained by the co-use of the DIR coupler represented by formula (Y).

EXAMPLE 5

The same test as Example 1 was carried out except for removing the formalin of the Processing Steps (I) to (III). The same result as in Example 1 was obtained.

EXAMPLE 6

The same test as Example 2 was carried out except for removing the formalin of the Processing Steps (I) to (III). The same result as in Example 2 was obtained.

EXAMPLE 7

The same test as Example 3 was carried out except for removing the formalin of the Processing Steps (I) to (III). The same result as in Example 3 was obtained.

EXAMPLE 8

The same test as Example 4 was carried out except for removing the formalin of the Processing Steps (I) to (III). The same result as in Example 4 was obtained.
As described hereinbefore, silver halide color photographic materials having excellent desilvering property and good graininess can be obtained according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A silver halide color photographic material comprising a support having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide color photographic material contains at least one silver halide emulsion containing silver iodide grains whose average iodide content is at least 7 mol % and at least one compound capable of releasing a bleach accelerating agent upon reaction with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine type color developing agent, said compound having the following general formula (I):

wherein A represents a group whose bond to (L₁)_a-(L₂)_b-Z is capable of being cleaved upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; L₁ represents a timing group or a group whose bond to (L₂)_b-Z is capable of being cleaved upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; L₂ represents a timing group or a group whose bond to Z is capable of being released upon reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent; a and b each represents 0 or 1 and Z is a group represented by formula (XII), (XIII) or (XIV);

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to A-(L₁)_a-(L₂)_b-; R₃₁ represents a divalent aliphatic group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R₃₂ represents a group as defined for R₃₁, a divalent aromatic group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms or a 3-membered to 8-membered divalent heterocyclic group; X₁ represents -O-, -S-, -COO-, S0₂-,

X₂ represents an aromatic group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; X₃ represents a 3-membered to 8- membered, preferably 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic group containing at least one carbon atom which is connected to S in the ring; Y₁ represents a carboxy group, a salt thereof, a sulfo group or a salt thereof, a hydroxy group, a phosphonic acid group or a salt thereof, an amino group which is substituted with an aliphatic group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, -NHS0₂R₃₅ or -SO₂NHR₃₅; Y₂ represents a group as defined for Y₁ or a hydrogen atom; r represents 0 or 1; f represents an integer from 0 to 4; m represents an integer from 1 to 4; u represents an integer from more than 0 up to 4; provided that m Y₁'s may be connected at a position which can be substituted on R₃₁-{(X₁)_r-R₃₂}l, X₂- {(X₁)_r-R₃₂}l or X₃-{(X₁)_r-R₃₂}l ;
when m represents 2 or more, two or more Y₁' may be the same or different; when f represents 2 or more, two or more (X₁)_r-R₃₂'s may be the same or different; R₃₃, R34 and R₃₅ each represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, with the proviso that said compound is not

2. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the silver iodide content is from 10 mol % to 30 mol %.

3. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by A represents a coupler residual group or an oxidation reduction group.

4. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 3, wherein the coupler residual group represented by A is a yellow coupler residual group, a magenta coupler residual group, a cyan coupler residual group or a non-color forming coupler residual group.

5. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 3, wherein A represents a coupler residual group represented by formula (Cp-1), (Cp-2), (Cp-3), (Cp-4), (Cp-5), (Cp-6), Cp-7), (Cp-8), (Cp-9) or (Cp-10);

wherein R₄₁ represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; R₄₂ represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group; and R₄₃, R₄₄ and R₄₅ each represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group;

R₅₁ represents a group as defined for R₄₁;

R₅₂ and R₅₃ each represents a group as defined for R₄₂;

R₅₄ represents a group as defined for R₄₁,

R₅₅ represents a group as defined for R₄₁;

R₅₆ and R₅₇ each represents a group as defined for R₄₃, R₄₁S-, R₄₁O-,

R₅₈ represents a group as defined for R₄₁;

R₅₉ represents a group as defined for R₄₁;

a halogen atom or

d represents an integer from 0 to 3, when d represents 2 or more, two or more R₅₉'s may be the same or different, or each of two R₅₉'s may be the same or different, or each of two R₅₉'s may be a divalent group and connected with each other to form a cyclic structure;

R₆₀ represents a group as defined for R₄₁;

R₆₁ represents a group as defined for R₄₁;

R₆₂ represents a group as defined for R₄₁; R₄₁CONH-, R₄₁OCONH-, R₄₁SO₂NH-,

, a halogen atom or

R₆₃ represents a group as defined for R₄₁,

R₄₁SO₂, R₄₁OCO-, R₄₃OSO₂-, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group or R₄₃CO-; and
e represents an integer from 0 to 4, when e represents 2 or more, two or more R₆₂'s or R₆₃'s may be the same or different.

6. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 3, wherein the oxidation reduction group represented by A is a group represented by formula (II):

wherein P and Q each represents an oxygen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted imino group; at least one of the n X and Y's represents a methine group having a group of (L₁)_a - (L₂)_b- Z as a substituent, and the other X and Y's each represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group or a nitrogen atom; n represents an integerfrom 1 to 3 (n X's and n Y's may be the same ordifferent); A₁ and A₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a group capable of being eliminated with an alkali; or any two substituents or P, X, Y, Q, A₁ and A₂ may be divalent groups and connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.

7. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 6, wherein the group represented by the general formula (II) is a group represented by formulae (III) or (IV):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to -(L₁)_a - (L₂)_b- Z; P, Q, A₁ and A₂ each has the same meaning as defined in the formula (II); R₆₄ represents a substituent; q represents an integer of 0, 1, 2 or 3; and when q represents 2 or 3, two or three R₆₄'s may be the same or different, or when two R₆₄'s represent substituents positioned on the adjacent two carbon atoms, they may be divalent groups connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.

8. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 7, wherein P and Q each represents an oxygen atom.

9. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by L₁ or L₂ is a group represented by the formula (T-1):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in formula (I), W represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or

wherein R₆₇ represents a substituent; R₆₅ and R₆₆ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; t represents 1 or 2; when t represents 2, two

groups may be the same or different; and any two or R₆₅, R₆₆ and R₆₇ may be connected to each other to form a cyclic structure.

10. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by L₁ or L₂ is a group renresented bv formula (T-2):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in formula (I); Nu represents a nucleophilic group; E represents an electrophilic group which is able to cleave the bond indicated by ** upon a nucleophilic attack of Nu; and Link represents a linking group which connects Nu with E in a stereochemical position capable of causing an intramolecular nucleophilic displacement reaction between Nu and E.

11. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by L₁ or L₂ is a group represented by formula (T-3):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in the formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in formula (I); W represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a group of

wherein R₆₇ represents a substituent; R₆₅ and R₆₆ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; t represents 1 or 2, when t represents 2, two

may be the same or different; and R₆₅ and R₆₆ may be connected to each other to form a cyclic structure.

12. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by L₁ or L₂ is a group represented by formula (T-4) or (T-5):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in formula (I); and the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in formula (I).

13. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by L₁ or L₂ is a group represented by the following general formula (T-6):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in formula (I); and the bond indicated by ** denotes the position at which the group is connected to the right side group in formula (I); W represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or

and R₆₇ and R₆₈ each represents a substituent.

14. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the group represented by L₁ is a group capable of forming a coupler after being released from A or a group capable of forming an oxidation reduction group after being released from A.

15. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 14, wherein the group capable of forming a coupler group represented by formulae (V), (VI), (VII) or (VIII):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in formula (I); the bond indicated by ** denotes the pöosition at which the group is connected to the right side group in formula (I); V₁ and V₂ each represents a substituent; V₃, V₄, V₅ and V₆ each represents a nitrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted methine group; V₇ represents a substituent; X represents an integer from 0 to 4, and when X represents 2 or more, two or more V₇'s may be connected with each other to form a cyclic structure; V₈ represents -CO-, -SO₂-, an oxygen atom or a substituted imino group; Vg represents a non-metallic atomic group necessary to form a 5-membered to 8-membered ring together with

and V₁₀ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; or V₁ and V₂ each may represent a divalent group connected with each other to form a 5-membered to 8-membered ring together with

16. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 15, wherein the group capable of forming an oxidation reduction group is a group represented by formula (IX):

wherein the bond indicated by * denotes the position at which the group is connected to the left side group in formula (I); A2', P', Q' and n' each has the same meaning as A₂, P, Q and n defined in formula (II); at least one of X'and Y's represents a methine group having a group of -(L₂)_b-Z or -Z as a substituent, and other X' and Y's each represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group or a nitrogen atom; or any two substituents of A₁', P', Q', X' and Y' may be divalent groups connected with each other to form a cyclic structure.

17. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the compound represented by formula (I) is a polymer derived from a monomer represented by formula (XV) described below and having a recurring unit represented by formula (XV) described below and having a recurring unit represented by formula (XVI) described below or may be a copolymer of the above described monomer and at least one non-color forming monomer containing at least one ethylene group which does not have an ability of coupling with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine developing agent:

wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a chlorine atom; A₁₁ represents -CONH-, -NHCONH-, NHCOO-, -COO-, -SO₂-, -CO-, -NHCO-, -SO₂NH, -NHSO₂-, -OCO-, -OCONH-, -NH- or -0-; A₁₂ represents -CONH- or -COO-; A₁₃ represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group; QQ represents a group of the compound represented by formula (I); and i, j and k each represents 0 or 1 excluding the case that i, j and k are simultaneously 0.

18. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 17, wherein the non-color forming ethylenic monomer is selected from an acrylic acid, an ester derived from an acrylic acid, an amide derived from an acrylic acid, a methylenebisacrylamide, a vinyl ester, an acrylonitrile, an aromatic vinyl compound, a maleic acid derivative and a vinylpyridine.

19. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 1, wherein the silver halide color photographic material further contains a DIR coupler represented by formula (Y):

wherein A represents a coupler radical group which eliminates (TIME)_n -B by means of the coupling reaction with the oxidation product of the primary aromatic amine developing agent, TIME represents a timing group which bonds to the active coupling position in A and which releases B after separation from A due to the coupling reaction, B denotes a group represented by general formulae (Ila), (IIb), (IIc), (IId), (IIe(, (Ilf), (IIg), (IIh), (Ili), (IIj), (IIk), (lIf), (IIm), (IIn), (IIo), or (Ip) and n represents an integer equal to 0 or 1, with the condition that when n is 0, B is directly bonded to A:

wherein X₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted phenyl group; X₂ represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, an acyloxy group, a ureido group, a cyano group, a nitro group, an amino group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aryloxycarbonyl group or an acyl group; X₃ represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or an imino group with 4 or less carbon atoms; and m represents an integer equal to 1 or 2, with the proviso that the number m of carbon atoms contained in X₂ is 8 or less, and when m is 2, two X₂ groups may be the same or may be different.

20. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 19, wherein B of formula (Y) is represented by formula (Ila), (IIb), (Ili), (IIj), (Ilk), or (lIf).

21. The silver halide color photographic material of claim 20, wherein B of formula (Y) is represented by formula (Ila), (Ili), (IIj), or (Ilk).