Reactivity control in microcrystalline coupler dispersions

Claim 2

A photographic coupler dispersion comprising colloidal microcrystalline particles of coupler smaller than 5 μm in average dimension, wherein said particles are wetted with an activating and water-immiscible organic solvent.

Claim 3

A dispersion as in claim 1 wherein said particles are less than 1 μm in largest dimension.

Claim 4

A dispersion as in claim 2 wherein said particles are less than 0.2 μm in largest dimension.

Claim 5

A dispersion as in claim 1 which further comprises a hydrophilic polymer.

Claim 6

A dispersion as in claim 4 wherein said polymer is selected from the group comprising gelatin, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylpyrollidone.

Claim 7

A dispersion as in claim 1 wherein said coupler reacts with the oxidized product of a primary amine developing agent.

Claim 8

A dispersion as in claim 6 wherein said developing agent is selected from the group consisting of 4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline hydrochloride; 4-amino-3-methyl-N,N-diethyl aniline hydrochloride; 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)aniline sulfate hydrate; 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)aniline sulfate; 4-amino-3-(β-methanesulfonamido)ethyl-N,N-diethylaniline hydrochloride; 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)aniline sesquisulfate monohydrate; and 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)aniline di-p-toluenesulfonic acid.

Claim 9

A dispersion as in claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of tri-cresyl phosphate, di-n-butyl phthalate, N,N-diethyl lauramide, 2,4-di-t-amyl phenol, 2,4-di-n-amyl phenol, N-n-butyl acetanilide, 1,4-cyclohexylene ethylhexanoate, bis(2-ethylhexyl phthalate, di-n-decyl phthalate, bis(10,11-epoxyundecyl) phthalate, tri-n-hexyl phosphate, dimethyl phthalate, 1-octanol, 1-undecanol, tri-cyclohexyl phosphate, tri-isononyl phosphate, tri-92-ethylhexyl) phosphate, p-dodecyl phenol, N-n-amyl phthalimide, bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate, ethyl-N,N-di-n-butyl carbamate, diethyl phthalate, n-butyl-2-methoxybenzoate, bis(2-n-butoxyethyl) phthalate, diethyl benzylmalonate, guaiacol acetate, tri-m-cresyl phosphate, ethyl phenylacetate, phorone, di-n-butyl sebacate, di-n-octyl phthalate, cresyl diphenyl phosphate, butyl cyclohexyl phthalate, tetrahydrofurfuryl adipate, guaiacol n-caproate, bis(tetrahydrofurfuryl)phthalate, N,N,N',N'-tetraethyl phthalimide, N-n-amyl succinimide, and triethyl citrate.

Claim 10

A dispersion as in claim 1 wherein said solvent is added at a coupler to permanent solvent weight ratio in the range of 1:0.02 to 1:4.

Claim 11

A dispersion as in claim 9 wherein said solvent is added at a coupler to permanent solvent weight ratio in the range of 1:0.1 to 1:1.

Claim 12

A dispersion as in claim 1 wherein said microcrystalline coupler dispersion is prepared with a dispersing aid.

Claim 13

A dispersion as in claim 11 wherein said microcrystalline coupler dispersion is prepared with a dispersing aid selected from the group consisting of sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium bis(2-ethyl hexyl)sulfosuccinate), sodium bis(1-methyl pentyl)sulfosuccinate, sodium bis(phenylethyl)sulfosuccinate, sodium bis(β-phenyl ethyl)sulfosuccinate, sodium bis(2-phenyl propyl)sulfosuccinate, and the following: ##STR5##

Claim 14

A dispersion as in claim 11 wherein said dispersing aid is present in said dispersion at a coupler to dispersing aid weight ratio of 1:0.01 to 1:2.

Claim 15

A dispersion as in claim 13 wherein said dispersing aid is present in said dispersion at a coupler to dispersing aid weight ratio of 1:0.03 to 1:0.3.

Claim 16

A color photographic element comprising a support bearing at least one photographic silver halide emulsion layer and a microcrystalline coupler dispersion in reactive association with said emulsion layer, wherein said coupler dispersion comprises microcrystalline particles of coupler smaller than 5 μm in average dimension wetted with an activating water-immiscible organic solvent.

Claim 17

A color photographic element comprising a support bearing at least one photographic silver halide emulsion layer and a microcrystalline coupler dispersion in reactive association with said emulsion layer, wherein said coupler dispersion comprises microcrystalline particles of coupler smaller than 5 μm in average dimension wetted with an activating water-immiscible organic solvent.