Color Photographic Light-Sensitive Material

The present invention relates to a color photographic light-sensitive material containing a 2-equivalent magenta coupler. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the prevention of stain which typically occurs during development processing of a color photographic light-sensitive material containing a 2-equivalent magenta coupler.

Various pyrazolone derivatives are known as magenta-dye-forming couplers (hereinafter referred to simply as magenta couplers). However, pyrazolone derivatives generally used for photographic light-sensitive materials are 4-equivalent couplers. Such compounds theoretically require the development of four mols of silver halide for forming one mole of a dye by reacting with an aromatic primary amine developing agent. On the contrary, pyrazolones having an active methylene group substituted with a group which can be released by oxidative coupling with an oxidation product of the primary amine developing agent require development of only two mols of silver halide. In addition, the 4-equivalent pyrazolone derivatives have a low color forming efficiency (conversion rate of the coupler into the dye) and generally form only a 1/2 mol or so of the dye per mol of the coupler.

As a means for improving the color forming efficiency by decreasing the amount of silver halide required for development, utilization of 2-equivalent pyrazolone magenta couplers has been proposed.

Examples of pyrazolone derivatives which release an oxygen atom include compounds having an aryloxy group in the 4-position of the 5-pyrazolone group as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,391, and compounds having an alkyloxy group as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 46453/78.

Examples of pyrazolone derivatives which release a nitrogen atom include compounds having an imidazolyl group, a pyrazolyl group, or a triazolyl group in the 4-position of the 5-pyrazolone group as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,076,533 and 4,241,168, compounds having a pyridonyl group or a 2-oxopiperidinyl group as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,470 and compounds having a sulfonamido group as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,217.

Further, examples of pyrazolone derivatives which release a sulfur atom include compounds having a heterocyclic thio group or an arylthio group in the 4-position of the 5-pyrazolone group as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,227,554 and 4,263,723, Japanese Patent Publication No. 34044/78, compounds having a thiocyano group as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,437 and compounds having a dithiocarbamate group as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,346. These compounds are advantageous in that most of them can be synthesized from 4-equivalent pyrazolone couplers in one step. Also, these compounds are advantageous in view of photographic sensitivity and equivalency. It has been found that compounds having a 2-alkoxyarylthio group in the 4-position of the 5-pyrazolone group have exceptionally superior properties among couplers of the type which release an arylthio group. In addition, magenta color images formed from the couplers having a 2-alkoxyarylthio group have good fastness to light, while the light fastness of magenta color images formed from conventional couplers having an arylthio group is significantly inferior.

However, these 2-equivalent magenta couplers are still insufficient in view of the occurrence of stains (increase in color density in unexposed areas) which are formed by development processing, although they are fairly improved.

The stains occurring in unexposed areas of silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material are undesirable and are a determining factor with respect to whether whiteness of the non-image areas is good or bad. Further, such stains adversely affect the color turbidity of the images and injure the visual sharpness of the images. Particularly, in the case of reflective photographic materials, for example, photographic color papers, the reflective density of the stains is theoretically emphasized several times that of the transmission density. Therefore, the stains are very important factors since even a slight degree of stain will injure the image quality.

Stains in the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials are roughly classified into four groups depending on the cause of the stain. First is a stain which is formed after the production of the photographic light-sensitive material and before the processing thereof due to heat or humidity. Second is a stain caused by the development fog of the silver halide. Third is a stain based on color contamination due to color couplers in a development processing solution (for example, aerial fog, etc.) or a stain due to a dye formed by reaction with a coupler of an oxidized developing agent which is formed by oxidation of a developing agent remaining in the silver halide emulsion layer by a bleach solution or oxygen in the air, etc. (for example, bleaching stain, etc.). Fourth is a stain based on changes in photographic materials after development processing with the passage of time due to light, humidity or heat. The present invention relates to stains due to the development processing of photographic materials containing 2-equivalent magenta couplers, i.e., the present invention relates to the third and fourth types of stains described above.

It is unusual to prepare a new solution for every development processing. In practice, the solution is replenished by adding a replenishing developing solution in an amount which depends on the amount of photographic materials developed. Even so, the composition of the solution can not be maintained indefinitely simply by adding components which are consumed by development.

In general, solutions for development processing include a color developing solution, a stopping solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution or a bleach-fixing (blixing) solution, etc. Since the processing temperature is maintained at a high temperature such as from 31.degree. C. to 43.degree. C., the compositions of the processing solutions can be changed by several factors. For example, components such as the developing agent, etc., is subjected to decomposition for a long period of time or to oxidation when brought in contact with the air. It is also possible for the components contained in the photographic light-sensitive materials to dissolve out and accumulate in the solution during the processing of the photographic light-sensitive materials. In addition, the processing solution may be transferred into the subsequent baths by becoming attached to the photographic material. Thus, the processing solution becomes a so-called running solution. To eliminate such problems, a replenishment procedure in which chemicals lacking are supplementally added to the solution and a regeneration procedure in which undesirable components are removed are carried out, but even these steps are still not completely sufficient.

Photographic light-sensitive materials containing 2-equivalent magenta couplers have a strong tendency to form stains in the running solution. However, the occurrence of such stains cannot be sufficiently prevented by techniques heretofore known. An example of a somewhat effective method for preventing such stains involves the incorporation of a reducing agent, particularly, an alkylhydroquinone (for example, those as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,935,016 and 3,960,570, etc.) into a photographic light-sensitive material, particularly, an emulsion layer wherein the stains are formed. It is also known that a chroman, a coumaran (for example, those as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,360,290), a phenol type compound (for example, those as described in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 9449/76), etc. are somewhat effective. Furthermore, a sulfinic acid type polymer is known as being effective as described in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 151937/81. However, these known techniques cannot provide a sufficiently good effect against processing stain due to use of 2-equivalent magenta couplers, and, in particular, to the processing stain owing to the exhausted solution, even though some effect is obtained.

Further, recently an attempt to reduce the replenishing amount is being made in a photofinishing laboratory for the purposes of reduction of wastes. In this case, they may be found an elevation of pH and an increase of the degree of stain occurrence.

Still further, such phenomena are likely found in case that in a small photofinishing laboratory, the control of replenishing amount, etc is not sufficiently achieved.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to improve these drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing the occurrence of stain when a photographic light-sensitive material containing a 2-equivalent magenta coupler is subjected to development processing, and particularly, a method for completely preventing the occurrence of stain in a solution for development processing under the running condition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a photographic light-sensitive material in which a 2-equivalent magenta coupler is used, the amount of silver contained is reduced, and which provides a magenta image of good sharpness and has excellent development processing properties.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and examples.

The above-described objects of the present invention can be attained by a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support having coated thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, the color photographic light-sensitive material having at least one layer containing (1) at least one 2-equivalent magenta coupler represented by formula (I): ##STR3## wherein W represents a phenyl group substituted with at least one halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group or cyano group; Y represents an acylamino group or an anilino group; and Z represents a group capable of being released upon coupling, and (2) at least one amine compound having at least two groups other than a hydrogen atom represented by formula (II): ##STR4## wherein X, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents an unsubstituted alkyl group or an alkyl group substituted with a halogen atom, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a cyano group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acylamino group, an imido group, an anilino group, an alkylamino group, a heterocyclic amino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, an arylthio group, a heterocyclic thio group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aryloxycarbonylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a phosphonyl group, an imino group, a cyanothio group, an acyloxy group, a carbamoyloxy group, a silyloxy group, a sulfonyloxy group, a heterocyclic oxy group, a hydroxy group or a nitro group; or one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and a nitrogen atom together form a heterocyclic ring, with the proviso that where the heterocyclic ring is a 6-membered saturated ring, said ring has three or less alkyl groups; and the total number of carbon atoms included in R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and X is not less than 10.

In formula (I), preferred examples of the group capable of being released upon coupling represented by Z include an aryloxy group, an alkoxy group, a heterocyclic oxy group, a silyloxy group, a phosphonoxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, a heterocyclic thio group, an acylthio group, a thiocyano group, an aminothiocarbonylthio group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aryloxycarbonylamino group or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group which is connected to the active position of the pyrazolone ring through the nitrogen atom.

Of the compounds represented by formula (I), preferred compounds can be represented by formula (Ib): ##STR5## wherein W represents a phenyl group substituted with at least one halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group or cyano group; R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, an alkylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or an aryl group; m represents an integer of from 1 to 5 and when m is 2 or more, the R.sub.3 's may be the same or different; and Y represents an acylamino group or an anilino group.

Of the compounds represented by formula (Ib), more preferred compounds can be represented by formula (Ic): ##STR6## wherein W has the same meaning as defined in the general formula (Ib); R.sub.4 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group; X' represents a halogen atom or an alkoxy group; R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group; R.sub.6 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a sulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, a diacylamino group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an alkoxysulfonyl group, an aryloxysulfonyl group, an alkanesulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkyloxycarbonylamino group, an alkylureido group, an acyl group, a nitro group, a carboxy group, or a trichloromethyl group; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 4.

The magenta couplers represented by formula (Ic) are described in more detail below.

In formula (Ic), W is a substituted phenyl group. Substituents for the phenyl group include a halogen atom (for example, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a fluorine atom, etc.), an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a tetradecyl group, a tert-butyl group, etc.), an alkoxy group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms (for example, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, an octyloxy group, a dodecyloxy group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonyl group having from 2 to 23 carbon atoms (for example, a methoxycarbonyl group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, a tetradecyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), or a cyano group.

X' in formula (Ic) represents a halogen atom (for example, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a fluorine atom, etc.) or an alkoxy group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms (for example, a methoxy group, an octyloxy group, a dodecyloxy group, etc.).

R.sub.6 in formula (Ic) represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom (for example, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a fluorine atom, etc.), a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group (for example, a methyl group, a tertbutyl group, a tetradecyl group, etc.), an alkoxy group (for example, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a 2-ethylhexyloxy group, a tetradecyloxy group, etc.), an acylamino group (for example, an acetamido group, a benzamido group, a butanamido group, a tetradecanamido group, an .alpha.-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)acetamido group, an .alpha.-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butylamido group, an .alpha.-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)hexanamido group, an .alpha.-(4-hydroxy-3-tert-butylphenoxy)tetradecanamido group, a 2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl group, a 2-oxo-5-tetradecylpyrrolidin-1-yl group, an N-methyltetradecanamido group, etc.), a sulfonamido group (for example, a methanesulfonamido group, a benzenesulfonamido group, a p-toluenesulfonamido group, an octanesulfonamido group, a p-dodecylbenzenesulfonamido group, an N-methyltetradecanesulfonamido group, etc.), a sulfamoyl group (for example, an N-methylsulfamoyl group, an N-hexadecylsulfamoyl group, an N-[3-(dodecyloxy)propyl]sulfamoyl group, an N-[4-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butyl]sulfamoyl group, an N-methyl-N-tetradecylsulfamoyl group, etc.), a carbamoyl group (for example, an N-methylcarbamoyl group, an N-octadecylcarbamoyl group, an N-[4-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butyl]carbamoyl group, an N-methyl-N-tetradecylcarbamoyl group, etc.), a diacylamino group (for example, an N-succinimido group, an N-phthalimido group, a 2,5-dioxo-1-oxazolidinyl group, a 3-dodecyl-2,5-dioxo-1-hydantoinyl group, a 3-(N-acetyl-N-dodecylamino)succinimido group, etc.), and alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, a methoxycarbonyl group, a tetradecyloxycarbonyl group, a benzyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), an alkoxysulfonyl group (for example, a methoxysulfonyl group, an octyloxysulfonyl group, a tetradecyloxysulfonyl group, etc.), an aryloxysulfonyl group (for example, a phenoxysulfonyl group, a 2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxysulfonyl group, etc.), an alkanesulfonyl group (for example, a methanesulfonyl group, an octanesulfonyl group, a 2-ethylhexanesulfonyl group, a hexadecanesulfonyl group, etc.), an arylsulfonyl group (for example, a benzenesulfonyl group, a 4-nonylbenzenesulfonyl group, etc.), an alkylthio group (for example, an ethylthio group, a hexylthio group, a benzylthio group, a tetradecylthio group, a 2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)ethylthio group, etc.), an arylthio group (for example, a phenylthio group, a p-tolylthio group, etc.), an alkyloxycarbonylamino group (for example, an ethyloxycarbonylamino group, a benzyloxycarbonylamino group, a hexadecyloxycarbonylamino group, etc.), an alkylureido group (for example, an N-methylureido group, an N,N-dimethylureido group, an N-methyl-N-dodecylureido group, an N-hexadecylureido group, an N,N-dioctadecylureido group, etc.), an acyl group (for example, an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, an octadecanoyl group, a p-dodecanamidobenzoyl group, etc.), a nitro group, a carboxy group or a trichloromethyl group. In the above-described substituents, the alkyl moieties thereof preferably have from 1 to 36 carbon atoms, and the aryl moieties thereof preferably have from 6 to 38 carbon atoms.

R.sub.4 in formula (Ic) represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms (for example, a methyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a 2-methoxyethyl group, a methoxymethyl group, a hexyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group, a dodecyl group, a hexadecyl group, a 2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)ethyl group, a 2-dodecyloxyethyl group, etc.), or an aryl group (for example, a phenyl group, an .alpha.- or .beta.-naphthyl group, a 4-tolyl group, etc.).

R.sub.5 in formula (Ic) represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, or a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group, each as defined for R.sub.6 above.

Of the couplers represented by formula (Ic), those in which the total number of carbon atoms included in the groups represented by R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is not less than 6 are particularly preferred for achieving the objects of the present invention.

Specific examples of the typical couplers according to the present invention are set forth below, but the present invention is not to be construed as being limited to these compounds. ##STR7##

The amine compounds having at least two groups other than a hydrogen atom include those represented by formula (II): ##STR8## wherein X, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents an unsubstituted alkyl group or an alkyl group substituted with a halogen atom, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a cyano group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acylamino group, an imido group, an anilino group, an alkylamino group, a heterocyclic amino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, an arylthio group, a heterocyclic thio group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an aryloxycarbonylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a phosphonyl group, an imino group, a cyanothio group, an acyloxy group, a carbamoyloxy group, a silyloxy group, a sulfonyloxy group, a heterocyclic oxy group, a hydroxy group or a nitro group; or one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and a nitrogen atom together form a heterocyclic ring, with the proviso that where the heterocyclic ring is a 6-membered saturated ring, said ring has three or less alkyl groups; and the total number of carbon atoms included in R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and X is not less than 10.

The compounds represented by formula (II) are described in more detail below.

In formula (II), the alkyl group represented by X, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 includes a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkenyl group and an alkynyl group, each group having up to 32 carbon atoms. Each of these groups may be substituted with a halogen atom (for example, a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, etc.), an aryl group (for example, a phenyl group, an .alpha.- or .beta.-naphthyl group, a 2,4-dichlorophenyl group, a 3-pentadecylphenyl group, a 2,4-di-tert-amylphenyl group, etc.), a heterocyclic group (for example, a 2-pyridyl group, a 2-benzothiazolyl group, a 2-furyl group, an N-piperidyl group, an N-phthalimido group, etc.), a cyano group, an alkoxy group (for example, a methoxy group, a butoxy group, a 2-ethylhexyloxy group, a 2-methanesulfonylethoxy group, a 3-phenoxypropoxy group, a hexadecyloxy group, etc.), an aryloxy group (for example, a phenoxy group, a 4-chlorophenoxy group, a 2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy group, a 3-methanesulfonamidophenoxy group, a 4-cyanophenoxy group, a 2-naphthoxy group, etc.), an acylamino group (for example, an acetamido group, a benzamido group, a (2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)acetamido group, a 2-(2-chlorophenoxy)tetradecanamido group, a 3-[2-(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)butylamido]benzamido group, etc.), an imido group (for example, a succinimido group, a phthalimido group, an N-hydantoinyl group, etc.), an anilino group (for example, a phenylamino group,, a 2-chloroanilino group, an N-methylanilino group, a 2-chloro-5-tetradecanamidoanilino group, a 4-methoxyanilino group, etc.), an alkylamino group (for example, a methylamino group, an N,N-diethylamino group, an N-(2-ethoxyethoxy)amino group, etc.), a heterocyclic amino group (for example, a 2-pyridylamino group, a 2-imidazolylamino group, a 2-pyrimidylamino group, etc.), a ureido group (for example, a methylureido group, an N,N-dipropylureido group, a phenylureido group, a 4-chlorophenylureido group, a 4-propanesulfonylphenylureido group, etc.), a sulfamoylamino group (for example, an N,N-dimethylsulfamoylamino group, an N-methyl-N-phenylsulfamoylamino group, an N,N-diisopropylsulfamoylamino group, etc.), an arylthio group (for example, a phenylthio group, a 2-methylphenylthio group, a 4-dodecylphenylthio group, a 2-butyloxy-5-tert-octylphenylthio group, a 4-dodecyloxyphenylthio group, etc.), a heterocyclic thio group (for example, a 2-benzoxazolylthio group, a 1-ethyltetrazole-5-thio group, an ##STR9## group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonylamino group (for example, a methoxycarbonylamino group, a butoxycarbonylamino group, etc.), an aryloxycarbonylamino group (for example, a phenoxycarbonylamino group, etc.), a sulfonamido group (for example, a methanesulfonamido group, a benzenesulfonamido group, a dodecanesulfonamido group, a 4-dodecyloxybenzenesulfonamido group, etc.), a carbamoyl group (for example, an N-methylcarbamoyl group, an N,N-dibutylcarbamoyl group, an N-phenylcarbamoyl group, an N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl group, etc.), a sulfamoyl group (for example, an N-butylsulfamoyl group, an N-phenylsulfamoyl group, an N,N-dipropylsulfamoyl group, an N-methyl-N-phenylsulfamoyl group, etc.), a sulfonyl group (for example, a methanesulfonyl group, a dodecanesulfonyl group, a benzenesulfonyl group, a 4-toluenesulfonyl group, etc.), an acyl group (for example, an acetyl group, a propanoyl group, a dodecanoyl group, a benzoyl group, a pivaloyl group, a 4-methoxybenzoyl group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, a methoxycarbonyl group, a tetradecyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), an aryloxycarbonyl group (for example, a phenoxycarbonyl group, etc.), a phosphonyl group (for example, a methoxyphosphonyl group, a butylphosphonyl group, a phenylphosphonyl group, etc.), an imino group (for example, a propylideneimino group, etc.), a cyanothio group, an acyloxy group (for example, an acetoxy group, an octanoyloxy group, a benzoyloxy group, etc.), a carbamoyloxy group (for example, an N-acetylaminooxy group, an N-benzoylaminooxy group, etc.), a silyloxy group (for example, a trimethylsilyloxy group, a dibutylmethylsilyloxy group, etc.), a sulfonyloxy group (for example, a methanesulfonyloxy group, a benzenesulfonyloxy group, etc.), a heterocyclic oxy group (for example, a 1-phenyltetrazol-5-oxy group, a 2-tetrahydropyranyloxy group, etc.), a hydroxy group, or a nitro group. One of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can also be a hydrogen atom.

R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and a nitrogen atom can together form a heterocyclic ring, with the proviso that where the heterocyclic ring is a 6-membered saturated ring, said ring has three (3) or less alkyl groups. Examples of the saturated or unsaturated ring (skeleton) include ##STR10##

The above-illustrated rings may be substituted with an alkyl group or other substituent(s) as mentioned with respect to substituents of the substituted alkyl group. Preferably, X, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents an unsubstituted alkyl group or an alkyl group substituted with a halogen atom, an aryl group, a cyano group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an anilino group, an alkylamino group, an arylthio group, a heterocyclic thio group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, a sulfonyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a silyloxy group, a hydroxy group.

Preferably, the amine compounds represented by the formula (II) are tertiary amines including heterocyclic amines.

Specific examples of the amine compounds according to the present invention are set forth below, but the present invention is not to be construed as being limited to these compounds. ##STR11##

The amine compounds which can be used in the present invention are known compounds and can be obtained by known methods.

By a combination with an amine compound represented by formula (II), the storage stability of magenta coupler represented by formula (I) in a light-sensitive material can be improved.

The relative amount of the amine compound represented by formula (II) to the amount of the 2-equivalent magenta coupler represented by formula (I), (Ib), or (Ic) is preferably from 5 mol% to 500 mol%, and more preferably from 50 mol% to 300 mol%.

The compound represented by formula (I), (Ib), or (Ic) and the compound represented by formula (II) can be used by dissolving them in a solvent having a high boiling point as described hereinafter and then dispersing the solution. Also, they may be used by directly dissolving the compound represented by formula (I), (Ib) or (Ic) in the compound represented by formula (II).

Known solvents can be used as the above-described solvent having a high boiling point, particularly an organic solvent having a boiling point of not less than 180.degree. C. For example, a phthalic acid alkyl ester (e.g., dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, etc.), a phosphoric acid ester (e.g., diphenyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, dioctylbutyl phosphate, etc.), a citric acid ester (e.g., tributyl acetylcitrate, etc.), a benzoic acid ester (e.g., octyl benzoate, etc.), an alkylamide (e.g., diethyl laurylamide, etc.), a fatty acid ester (e.g., dibutoxyethyl succinate, dioctyl azelate, etc.), a trimesic acid ester (e.g., tributyl trimesate, etc.), etc., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,027, are preferably used. In particular, an alkyl phosphate (e.g., diphenyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphated, tricresyl phosphate, dioctylbutyl phosphate, etc.) is preferred.

Oil-soluble couplers are preferably used in the present invention.

Examples of useful magenta couplers include 5-pyrazolone type couplers, pyrazolotriazole type couplers and imidazopyrazole type couplers. Examples of useful yellow couplers include benzoylacetanilide type compounds and pivaloylacetanilide type compounds, which have been found to be advantageously used in the practice of the present invention. Examples of useful cyan couplers include phenol type compounds and naphthol type compounds.

In addition, colored couplers, DIR couplers, and compounds which release a development inhibitor as development may be used.

Two or more of the above-described couplers may be contained in the same layer. Two or more layers may contain the same compound.

These couplers are generally added in an amount of from 2.times.10.sup.-3 mol to 5.times.10.sup.-1 mol, and preferably from 1.times.10.sup.-2 mol to 5.times.10.sup.-1 mol, per mol of silver in the emulsion layer.

The ratio of oil/coupler is preferably from 0.0 to 2.0.

In order to incorporate the above-described couplers into a hydrophilic colloid layer, the method using the above-described organic solvent having a high boiling point as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,027 can be employed, or they may be dissolved in an organic solvent having a boiling point of from about 30.degree. to 150.degree. C., for example, a lower alkyl acetate (e.g., ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, etc.), ethyl propionate, sec-butyl alcohol, methyl isobutyl ketone, .beta.-ethoxyethyl acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate, etc., and then the solution is dispersed in a hydrophilic colloid. The above-described organic solvents having a high boiling point and the above-described organic solvents having a low boiling point may be used as mixtures, if desired.

Furthermore, the dispersing method using a polymeric material as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 39853/76, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 59943/76 can also be used.

When a coupler having an acid group, such as a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, etc., is used, it can be incorporated in a hydrophilic colloid as an alkaline aqueous solution thereof.

A subbing layer for the photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention is a hydrophilic colloid layer comprising a hydrophilic polymer such as gelatin (a binder or a protective colloid for a photographic emulsion described hereinafter can also be used) and is usually provided by coating on a support. By the provision of the subbing layer, in general, adhesion to the photographic emulsion layer can be improved and halation may be prevented.

The color photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention can be applied to any known color photographic light-sensitive material provided that they are subjected to color development processing, for example, color papers, color negative films, color reversal films, etc. It is particularly preferred for application to photographic light-sensitive materials for printing (for example, color papers, etc.).

The silver halide photographic emulsion used in the present invention can be prepared by using processes described in P. Glafkides, Chimie et Physique Photographique (published by Paul Montel Co., 1967); G. F. Duffin, Photographic Emulsion Chemistry (published by The Focal Press, 1966); V. L. Zelikman et al., Making and Coating Photographic Emulsion (published by The Focal Press, 1964); etc. Any of an acid process, neutral process or ammonia process may be used. Further, a single jet process, a double jet process, or a combination thereof can be used for reacting a soluble silver salt with a soluble halide.

A process for forming particles in the presence of excess silver ion (i.e., the so-called reverse mixing process) can also be used. As one of the modes of the double jet process, a method of keeping the liquid phase for forming the silver halide at a definite pAg, namely, the so-called controlled double jet process can be used. According to this process, a silver halide emulsion having a regular crystal form and nearly uniform particle size can be obtained.

Two or more silver halide emulsions prepared separately may also be blended.

In the photographic emulsion layer of the photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention, any of silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver iodochlorobromide, silver chlorobromide and silver chloride can be used as the silver halide.

In the step of formation of silver halide particles or the step of physical ripening thereof, a cadmium salt, a zinc salt, a lead salt, a thallium salt, an iridium salt or a complex salt thereof, a rhodium salt or a complex salt thereof, an iron salt or a complex salt thereof, etc., may be added thereto.

The photographic emulsion used in the present invention may be spectrally sensitized by known spectral sensitizing dyes, e.g., methine dyes. Examples thereof include include cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, complex cyanine dyes, complex merocyanine dyes, holopolar cyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes, styryl dyes, and hemioxonol dyes. Particularly useful dyes can be selected from the group consisting of cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, and complex merocyanine dyes. In these dyes, it is possible to utilize any basic heterocyclic nucleus conventionally utilized for a cyanine dye. Namely, it is possible to utilize 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 pyridine nucleus; the above-described nuclei to which an alicyclic hydrocarbon ring is fused; and the above-described nuclei to which an aromatic hydrocarbon ring is fused, namely, 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, a quinoline nucleus, etc. These nuclei may have substituents on the carbon atoms thereof.

In the merocyanine dye and the complex merocyanine dye, it is possible to utilize, as a nucleus having a ketomethylene structure, a 5- to 6-member heterocyclic nucleus such as a pyrazolin-5-one nucleus, a thiohydantoin nucleus, a 2-thioxazolidin-2,4-dione nucleus, a thiazolidine-2,4-dione nucleus, a rhodanine nucleus, a thiobarbituric acid nucleus, etc.

These sensitizing dyes may be used individually, or a combination thereof may also be used. The combination of the sensitizing dyes is frequently used for the purpose of supersensitization. Examples thereof have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,688,545, 2,977,229, 3,397,060, 3,522,052, 3,527,641, 3,617,293, 3,628,964, 3,666,480, 3,672,898, 3,679,428, 3,703,377, 3,769,301, 3,814,609, 3,837,862 and 4,026,707, British Pat. Nos. 1,344,281 and 1,507,803, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 4936/68 and 12375/78, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 110618/77 and 109925/77, etc.

The silver halide emulsion may contain a dye which does not have a spectral sensitization function, or a substance which does not substantially absorb visible rays but shows supersensitization together with the sensitizing dye. For example, the emulsion may contain an aminostilbene compound substituted with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,933,390 and 3,635,721), an aromatic organic acid-formaldehyde condensed product (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,510), a cadmium salt, an azaindene compound, etc. Combinations as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,615,613, 3,615,641, 3,617,295 and 3,635,721 are particularly useful.

The binder or protective colloid for the photographic emulsion is preferably gelatin, but other hydropholic colloids may also be used.

For example, it is possible to use a protein, for example, a gelatin derivatives, a graft polymer of gelatin with other polymers, albumin, or casein; saccharides, for example, a cellulose derivative such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose sulfate, etc., sodium alginate, a starch derivative, etc.; and a synthetic hydrophilic polymeric substance, for example, a homopolymer or a copolymer such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol partial acetal, poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrazole, etc.

The gelatin may be not only lime-processed gelatin, but also acid-processed gelatin, and enzyme-processed gelatin, as described in Bull. Soc. Sci. Phot. Japan, No. 16, page 30 (1966).

The present invention can be applied to a multilayer multicolor photographic light-sensitive material comprising at least two layers having different spectral sensitivities on a support. The multilayer natural color photographic light-sensitive material generally has at least one red-sensitive emulsion layer, at least one green-sensitive emulsion layer, and at least one blue-sensitive emulsion layer on the support. The order of these layers may be suitably varied as occasion demands. Generally, the red-sensitive emulsion layer contains a cyan forming coupler, the green-sensitive emulsion layer contains a magenta forming coupler, and the blue-sensitive emulsion layer contains a yellow forming coupler. However, if desired, other combinations may be utilized.

In the photographic light-sensitive material prepared according to the present invention, the hydrophilic colloid layer may contain a water-soluble dye as a filter dye or for other purposes such as prevention of irradiation. Examples of such dyes include an oxonol dye, a hemioxonol dye, a styryl dye, a merocyanine dye, a cyanine dye, and an azo dye. Among them, an oxonol dye, a hemioxonol dye, and a merocyanine dye are particularly useful.

In carrying out the present invention, known color fading preventing agents may be used. Further, such dye image stabilizers in the present invention may be used individually, or two or more of them may be used together. Examples of the known color fading preventing agents include a hydroquinone derivative, a gallic acid derivative, a p-alkoxyphenol, a p-oxyphenol, a bisphenol, etc.

The photographic light-sensitive material prepared according to the present invention can also contain, as a color fog preventing agent, a hydroquinone derivative, an aminophenol derivative, a gallic acid derivative, an ascorbic acid derivative, etc.

In the photographic light-sensitive material prepared according to the present invention, it is preferred that the hydrophilic colloid layer contains an ultraviolet ray absorbing agent. For example, it is possible to use a benzotriazole compound substituted with an aryl group (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,794), a 4-thiazolidone compound (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,314,794 and 3,352,681), a benzophenone compound (for example, those described in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 2784/71), a cinnamic acid ester compound (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,705,805 and 3,707,375), a butadiene compound (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,229), and a benzoxazole compound (for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,455). Further, it is possible to use those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,762 and Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 48535/79. A coupler having an ultraviolet ray absorbing property (for example, an .alpha.-naphthol type cyan dye forming coupler) and a polymer having an ultraviolet ray absorbing property may also be used. These ultraviolet ray absorbing agents may be mordanted on a specified layer.

In the photographic light-sensitive material prepared according to the present invention, the photographic emulsion layer and other hydrophilic colloid layers may contain a whitening agent such as a stilbene, triazine, oxazole, or coumarin type compound. They may be water-soluble. Further, a water-insoluble whitening agent may be used in the form of a dispersion.

In the photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention, the photographic emulsion layer and other hydrophilic layers can be coated on a support or other layers using various known coating methods. A dip coating method, a roller coating method, a curtain coating method, an extrusion coating method, etc., can be employed for coating.

The photographic processing of the photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention can be carried out by any known process. Known processing solutions can be used. The processing temperature is selected, generally, from 18.degree. C. to 50.degree. C., but a temperature of lower than 18.degree. C. or higher than 50.degree. C. may be used. Any color development processings can be employed, provided that they provide dye images.

The color developing solution is generally composed of an alkaline aqueous solution containing a color developing agent. The color developing agent may be a known primary aromatic amine developing agent. Examples of such agents include a phenylenediamine, for example, 4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N,N-diethylanilinie, 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-methoxyethylaniline, etc.

In addition, developing agents as described in L. F. A. Mason, Photographic Processing Chemistry (Focal Press, 1966) pages 226 to 229, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,193,015 and 2,592,364, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 64933/73, etc., may be used.

The color developing solution may contain a pH buffering agent such as a sulfite, a carbonate, a borate or a phosphate of an alkali metal, and a development inhibitor or an antifogging agent such as a bromide, an iodide, an organic antifogging agent, etc. If necessary, it may contain a water softener, a preservative such as hydroxylamine, an organic solvent such as benzyl alcohol or diethylene glycol, a development accelerator such as polyethylene glycol, a quaternary ammonium salt or an amine, a dye forming coupler, a competing coupler, a fogging agent such as sodium borohydride, a viscosity imparting agent, a polycarboxylic acid type chelating agent as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,723, an antioxidant as described in West German Patent Application (OLS) No. 2,622,950, etc.

After carrying out the color development, the photographic emulsion layers are generally subjected to bleaching. The bleaching may be carried out simultaneously with fixing or may be carried out separately. The bleaching agent may be a compound of a polyvalent metal such as iron (III), cobalt (III), chromium (VI) or copper (II), etc., a peracid, a quinone or a nitroso compound. For example, it is possible to use a ferricyanide, a bichromate, and an organic complex salt of iron (III) or cobalt (III), for example, a complex salt of an aminopolycarboxylic acid such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid or 1,3-diamino-2-propanol tetraacetic acid, etc., or an organic acid such as citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, etc.; a persulfate; a permanganate; nitrosophenol; etc. Among them, potassium ferricyanide, (ethylenediaminetetraacetato)iron (III) sodium complex and (ethylenediaminetetraacetato)iron (III) ammonium complex are particularly useful. (Ethylenediaminetetraacetato)iron (III) complexes are useful for both a bleaching solution and a mono-bath bleach-fixing solution.

To the bleaching solution or the bleach-fixing solution, it is possible to add a bleaching accelerator, a thiol compound, and various other additives.

In order to accelerate color development, a color developing agent or a derivative thereof may be previously incorporated into the photographic light-sensitive material. For example, it may be incorporated as a metal salt or a Schiff's base. Specific examples of these compounds which can be used are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,719,492 and 3,342,559, and Research Disclosure, No. 15159 (1976). Further, a developing agent such as a hydroquinone, a 3-pyrazolidone derivative or an aminophenol derivative, etc., may be incorporated into the photographic light-sensitive material.

The present invention is illustrated in greater detail with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto.

On a paper support, both surfaces of which were laminated with polyethylene, there was coated a coating solution comprising silver chlorobromide (silver bromide: 90 mol%; coating amount of silver: 350 mg/m.sup.2), gelatin (2,000 mg/m.sup.2) and a dispersion of a 4-equivalent magenta coupler, i.e., 1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-3-(2-chloro-5-tetradecanamido)anilino-2-pyrazoli n-5-one (400 mg/m.sup.2) and 2,5-di-tert-octyl hydroquinone (40 mg/m.sup.2) together with a coupler solvent, i.e., o-cresyl phosphate (530 mg/m.sup.2). On this emulsion layer was coated a gelatin protective layer (1,000 mg/m.sup.2) to prepare Sample 1.

Using equimolar amounts of the 2-equivalent magenta couplers according to the present invention, i.e., Couplers I-19, I-36, I-44 and I-46 in place of the 4-equivalent magenta coupler, and reducing the coating amount of silver halide to one half of that in Sample 1, Samples 2, 5, 8 and 11 were prepared, respectively. Further, the amine compound according to the present invention, i.e., Compound 2, was added to the coating solution in an equimolar amount of the coupler to prepare Samples 3, 6, 9 and 12, respectively. Moreover, the amine compound according to the present invention, i.e., Compound 11, was added to the coating solution in an equimolar amount of the coupler to prepare Samples 4, 7, 10 and 13, respectively.

These samples were exposed to light through an optical wedge and processed according to the following steps:

The composition of each processing solution used was set forth below:

The development processing was carried out using a conventional roller transportation type development machine and the processing solutions, the composition of which had become almost equilibrium condition by processing continuously under the replenish procedure wherein the replenisher for bleach-fixing solution had been replenished to the processing solution at a rate of 327 ml per m.sup.2 of color paper processed until the total amount of the replenisher had become twice in volume of the bleach-fixing processing tank.

Then, the magenta reflective density in the unexposed area was measured using a Fuji type automatic recording densitometer setting Sample 1 as a standard. The results thus obtained are set forth in Table 1 below.

From the results shown in Table 1 it is apparent that the magenta stain formed by development processing can be substantially prevented by the combined use of the 2-equivalent magenta coupler and the amine compound according to the present invention.

The same procedure as in Example 1 was repeated except that the compositions of the fresh solution and replenisher of the bleach-fixing solution were changed as set forth below and that the amount of the replenisher for bleach-fixing solution replenished was changed to 55 ml per m.sup.2 of color paper processed.

When the total amount of the replenisher had become twice in volume of the bleach-fixing processing tank, the bleach-fixing solution in the tank was found to have a pH of 8.0.

The results are set forth in Table 2 below.

From the results shown in Table 2 it is apparent that the magenta stain formed by development processing when used a bleach-fixing solution having a varied composition due to insufficient replenishing can be completely prevented according to the present invention.

On a paper support, both surfaces of which were laminated with polyethylene, there was coated a first layer (undermost layer) to a sixth layer (uppermost layer) as shown below, in order to prepare a multilayer color photographic light-sensitive material which is designated Sample A. In the Table below the coating amounts are set forth in mg/m.sup.2.

Sample B was prepared in the same manner as described in Sample A except that 500 mg/m.sup.2 of Coupler I-43 as a magenta coupler and 175 mg/m.sup.2 of the silver chlorobromide emulsion were used in the third layer. Further, 50 mol% of di-tert-octyl hydroquinone (comparison compound) per the coupler, 150 mg/m.sup.2 of sulfinic acid polymer (comparison compound) of the formula: ##STR12## 100 mol% of Compounds 6, 13 and 25 according to the present invention per the coupler were added to the third layer of Sample B to prepare Samples C, D, E, F, G and H, respectively.

These samples were exposed to light through an optical wedge and subjected to the same processing steps as described in Example 1. The magenta reflective density in the unexposed area was measured and the difference of density from that of Comparison Sample A was calculated. The results thus obtained are shown in Table 3 below.

It is apparent from the results shown in Table 3 that the compounds according to the present invention have an extremely good effect on preventing the formation of stain due to development processing of the photographic material containing 2-equivalent magenta couplers in comparison with known reducing agents such as a hydroquinone, etc. Furthermore, the compounds according to the present invention do not adversely affect the photographic properties of the photographic light-sensitive materials.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.