Positive images in photothermographic materials containing nitroxyl compounds

Claim 2

A photothermographic composition comprising: (a) a photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; (c) at least one color-forming coupler; (d) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent; and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR19## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR20## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is from 0 to 2, y is from 1 to 3, and X is a halogen.

Claim 3

The photothermographic composition of claim 1 wherein the negative-working silver halide is silver bromoiodide.

Claim 4

The photothermographic composition of claim 1 wherein the organic silver salt oxidizing agent is a silver salt of a fatty acid.

Claim 5

The photothermographic composition of claim 1 wherein the reducing agent is a sulfonamidophenol.

Claim 6

The photothermographic composition of claim 1 wherein the free radical nitroxyl compound has the formula: ##STR21## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR22## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 7

The photothermographic composition of claim 1 wherein the free radical nitroxyl compound is present in a concentration of from about 0.7 to about 2.5 moles per mole of silver halide.

Claim 8

A photothermographic composition comprising: (a) photosensitive negative-working silver bromoiodide; (b) a binder; (c) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a silver salt of a fatty acid; and (ii) a sulfonamidophenol; (d) at least one color-forming coupler; and (e) from about 0.7 to about 2.5 moles per mole of silver bromoiodide of a free radical compound having the formula: ##STR23## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR24## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 9

A photothermographic composition comprising: (a) photosensitive negative-working silver bromoiodide; (b) a binder; (c) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a silver salt of a fatty acid; and (ii) a sulfonamidophenol; (d) at least one color-forming coupler; and (e) from about 0.7 to about 2.5 moles per mole of silver bromoiodide of a free radical compound having the formula: ##STR23## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR24## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 10

A photothermographic element for producing a direct positive image comprising a support having thereon a negative-working layer comprising: (a) a photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; (c) at least one color-forming coupler; (d) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent; and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR25## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR26## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is a halogen.

Claim 11

A photothermographic element for producing a direct positive image comprising a support having thereon a negative-working layer comprising: (a) a photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; (c) at least one color-forming coupler; (d) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent; and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR25## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR26## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is a halogen.

Claim 12

The photothermographic element of claim 8 wherein the negative working silver halide is silver bromoiodide.

Claim 13

The photothermographic element of claim 8 wherein the organic silver salt oxidizing agent is a silver salt of a fatty acid.

Claim 14

The photothermographic element of claim 8 wherein the reducing agent is a sulfonamidophenol.

Claim 15

The photothermographic element of claim 8 wherein the free radical nitroxyl compound has the formula: ##STR27## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR28## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 16

The photothermographic element of claim 8 wherein the nitroxyl compound is present in a concentration of from about 0.7 to about 2.5 moles per mole of silver halide.

Claim 17

A photothermographic element for producing a direct positive color image comprising a support having thereon a negative-working layer comprising: (a) photosensitive negative-working silver bromoiodide; (b) a binder; (c) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a silver salt of a fatty acid and (ii) a sulfonamidophenol; (d) at least one color-forming coupler; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula ##STR29## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR30## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 18

A photothermographic element for producing a direct positive color image comprising a support having thereon a negative-working layer comprising: (a) photosensitive negative-working silver bromoiodide; (b) a binder; (c) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) a silver salt of a fatty acid and (ii) a sulfonamidophenol; (d) at least one color-forming coupler; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula ##STR29## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR30## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 19

A diffusion transfer, photothermographic material for producing a direct positive, color image comprising a support having thereon: (I) at least one photothermographic element comprising a layer comprising: (a) photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; (c) at least one color-forming coupler; (d) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula ##STR31## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR32## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is a halogen; and (II) a receiver unit capable of receiving a dye transferred from material (I).

Claim 20

A diffusion transfer, photothermographic material for producing a direct positive, color image comprising a support having thereon: (I) at least one photothermographic element comprising a layer comprising: (a) photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; (c) at least one color-forming coupler; (d) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes; and (e) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula ##STR31## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR32## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is a halogen; and (II) a receiver unit capable of receiving a dye transferred from material (I).

Claim 21

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the receiver unit (II) comprises a mordant for a dye image from unit (I).

Claim 22

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the negative-working silver halide is silver bromoiodide.

Claim 23

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the organic silver salt oxidizing agent is a silver salt of a fatty acid.

Claim 24

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the reducing agent is a sulfonamidophenol.

Claim 25

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the free radical nitroxyl compound has the formula: ##STR33## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR34## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 26

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the nitroxyl is present in a concentration range of from about 0.7 to about 2.5 moles per mole of silver halide.

Claim 27

The diffusion transfer material of claim 15 wherein the receiver unit (II) is removable from the material.

Claim 28

A diffusion transfer, photothermographic material for producing a direct positive, color image comprising, in sequence, a transport support having thereon (a) a dye mordant layer; and (b) a photothermographic layer comprising (i) photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (ii) a binder; (iii) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (1) a silver salt of a fatty acid and (2) a sulfonamidophenol; (iv) at least one color-forming coupler; and (v) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR35## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR36## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 29

A diffusion transfer, photothermographic material for producing a direct positive, color image comprising, in sequence, a transport support having thereon (a) a dye mordant layer; and (b) a photothermographic layer comprising (i) photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (ii) a binder; (iii) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (1) a silver salt of a fatty acid and (2) a sulfonamidophenol; (iv) at least one color-forming coupler; and (v) at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR35## wherein R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOH and ##STR36## wherein m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is fluoro or chloro.

Claim 32

The method of claim 24 wherein the element is heated to a temperature in a range of from about 100° to about 130° C.

Claim 33

In a method of providing a color image from a photothermographic element comprising a layer comprising (a) photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; and (c) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes, said method comprising imagewise exposing the element to provide a latent image and development at a temperature greater than 100° C. for from about 5 to about 30 seconds, and transfer of the image dyes with an organic solvent to a receiver sheet, the improvement comprising the presence within the same layer of the element of at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR39## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR40## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is a halogen.

Claim 34

In a method of providing a color image from a photothermographic element comprising a layer comprising (a) photosensitive negative-working silver halide; (b) a binder; and (c) an oxidation-reduction image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent and (ii) a reducing agent which, in its oxidized form, is capable of reacting with color-forming couplers to form dyes or leuco dyes, said method comprising imagewise exposing the element to provide a latent image and development at a temperature greater than 100° C. for from about 5 to about 30 seconds, and transfer of the image dyes with an organic solvent to a receiver sheet, the improvement comprising the presence within the same layer of the element of at least one free radical nitroxyl compound having the formula: ##STR39## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected alkyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 5 is an electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of --COOR 6 and ##STR40## wherein R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl, m is 1 or 2, x is 0 to 2, y is 1 to 3, and X is a halogen.