Photographic elements containing color-forming couplers having and inhibiting effect upon the reactivity of competing couplers

Claim 2

In a photographic element comprising a support coated with at least two silver halide emulsion layers; each of said emulsion layers being preferentially sensitive to different regions of the visible spectrum and each of said emulsion layers being associated with at least one coupler compound which, upon reaction with oxidized primary aromatic amine color developing agent, forms an image dye; a first emulsion layer sensitive to the relatively shorter wavelength region of the visible spectrum overlying the second emulsion layer in said element; said second emulsion containing a cyan dye-forming coupler compound or a magenta dye-forming coupler compound; the improvement which comprises, in said element, the presence in said first emulsion layer of a yellow dye-forming coupler compound having a Competitive Reaction Ratio of at most about 1.20; said yellow dye-forming coupler compound being selected from those having one of the structures: ##SPC6## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 can differ and are non-interfering coupler substituent groups; at least one of R 1 and R 2 in structure A and at least one of R 1 and R 3 in structure B being a ballasting group; said R 1 being ##SPC7## said R 2 being -C n H 2n +1 , where n is 1 to 30; -alkaryl; -aralkyl; -phenyl; or alkoxyphenyl, wherein the groups designated as alkyl and alkoxy contain 1-30 carbon atoms and the alkaryl, aralkyl and alkoxyphenyl groups contain 7-35 carbon atoms.

Claim 3

An improved photographic element as in claim 1, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound has the structure: ##SPC8##

Claim 4

An improved photographic element as in claim 1, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound has the structure: ##SPC9##

Claim 5

An improved photographic element as in claim 2, wherein said element contains three differentially sensitive emulsion layers and said yellow dye-forming coupler compound is in the layer farthest from the support of said three emulsion layers.

Claim 6

An improved photographic element as in claim 4, wherein R 1 is ##SPC10## --SO 2 R 4 , or ##SPC11## R 4 and R 5 being alkyl groups containing 1-30 carbon atoms.

Claim 7

An improved photographic element as in claim 5, wherein R 4 and R 5 are alkyl groups containing from about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 8

An improved photographic element as in claim 6, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC12##

Claim 9

An improved photographic element as in claim 6, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC13##

Claim 10

An improved photographic element as in claim 6, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compoud is ##SPC14##

Claim 11

An improved photographic element as in claim 6, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC15##

Claim 12

An improved photographic element as in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the weight of silver in said second emulsion layer to the weight of silver in said first emulsion layer is at least about 1.5.

Claim 13

An improved photographic element as in claim 11, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound has the structure: ##SPC16##

Claim 14

An improved photographic element as in claim 11, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound has the structure: ##SPC17##

Claim 15

An improved photographic element as in claim 11, wherein said element contains three differentially sensitive emulsion layers and said yellow dye-forming coupler compound is in the topmost of said three emulsion layers.

Claim 16

An improved photographic element as in claim 12, wherein R 1 is ##SPC18## --SO 2 R 4 , or ##SPC19## R 4 and R 5 being alkyl groups containing 1-30 carbon atoms.

Claim 17

An improved photographic element as in claim 15, whrein R 4 and R 5 are alkyl groups containing from about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 18

An improved photographic element as in claim 16, wherein said yellow-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC20##

Claim 19

An improved photographic element as in claim 16, wherein said yello-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC21##

Claim 20

An improved photographic element as in claim 16, wherein said yellow-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC22##

Claim 21

An improved photographic element as in claim 16, wherein said yellow-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC23##

Claim 22

In a photographic element comprising a support coated with three different silver halide emulsion layers containing, incorporated in said emulsion layers, coupler compounds capable of forming dyes upon reaction with oxidized aromatic amine color developing agents; said emulsion layers consisting of a first emulsion layer overlying second and third emulsion layers; said first emulsion layer being sensitive to light in the blue region of the visible spectrum and containing an incorporated yellow dye-forming coupler compound, said second emulsion layer being spectrally sensitized to respond to light in the green region of the visible spectrum and containing an incorporated magenta dye-forming coupler compound, and said third emulsion layer being spectrally sensitized to respond to light in the red region of the visible spectrum and containing an incorporated cyan dye-forming coupler compound; the improvement which comprises A. the ratio of the weight of silver in said second emulsion layer to the weight of silver in said first emulsion layer being at least about 1.5; b. the presence in said first emulsion layer of a yellow dye-forming coupler compound having a Competitive Reaction Ratio of at most about 1.20; and c. said yellow dye-forming coupler compound having one of the structures: ##SPC24## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 can differ and are non-interfering coupler substituent groups; at least one of R 1 and R 2 in structure A and at least one of R 1 and R 3 in structure B being a ballasting group; said R 1 being --nitro, ##SPC25## --SO 2 -alkyl, or --CN, and said R 2 being -C n H 2n +1 , where n is 1 to 30; -alkaryl; -aralkyl; -phenyl; or -alkoxyphenyl, wherein the groups designated as alkyl and alkoxy contain 1-30 carbon atoms and the alkaryl, aralkyl and alkoxyphenyl groups contain 7-35 carbon atoms.

Claim 23

In a photographic element comprising a support coated with three different silver halide emulsion layers containing, incorporated in said emulsion layers, coupler compounds capable of forming dyes upon reaction with oxidized aromatic amine color developing agents; said emulsion layers consisting of a first emulsion layer overlying second and third emulsion layers; said first emulsion layer being sensitive to light in the blue region of the visible spectrum and containing an incorporated yellow dye-forming coupler compound, said second emulsion layer being spectrally sensitized to respond to light in the green region of the visible spectrum and containing an incorporated magenta dye-forming coupler compound, and said third emulsion layer being spectrally sensitized to respond to light in the red region of the visible spectrum and containing an incorporated cyan dye-forming coupler compound; the improvement which comprises A. the ratio of the weight of silver in said second emulsion layer to the weight of silver in said first emulsion layer being at least about 1.5; b. the presence in said first emulsion layer of a yellow dye-forming coupler compound having a Competitive Reaction Ratio of at most about 1.20; and c. said yellow dye-forming coupler compound having one of the structures: ##SPC24## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 can differ and are non-interfering coupler substituent groups; at least one of R 1 and R 2 in structure A and at least one of R 1 and R 3 in structure B being a ballasting group; said R 1 being --nitro, ##SPC25## --SO 2 -alkyl, or --CN, and said R 2 being -C n H 2n +1 , where n is 1 to 30; -alkaryl; -aralkyl; -phenyl; or -alkoxyphenyl, wherein the groups designated as alkyl and alkoxy contain 1-30 carbon atoms and the alkaryl, aralkyl and alkoxyphenyl groups contain 7-35 carbon atoms.

Claim 24

An improved photographic element as in claim 21, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound has the structure: ##SPC26##

Claim 25

An improved photographic element as in claim 21, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound has the structure: ##SPC27##

Claim 26

An improved photographic element as in claim 21, wherein R 1 is ##SPC28## --SO 2 R 4 , or ##SPC29## R 4 and R 5 being alkyl groups containing 1-30 carbon atoms.

Claim 27

An improved photographic element as in claim 24, wherein R 4 and R 5 are alkyl groups containing from about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 28

An improved photographic element as in claim 25, wherein said yellow dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC30##

Claim 29

An improved photographic element as in claim 25, wherein said yellow-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC31##

Claim 30

An improved photographic element as in claim 25, wherein said yellow-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC32##

Claim 31

An improved photographic element as in claim 25, wherein said yellow-dye-forming coupler compound is ##SPC33##