Development of photographic silver halide material

A photographic developer comprising a silver halide developing agent and a compound corresponding to the following formula and containing in its molecule at least one thioether sulphur atom linked to two carbon atoms:

• ##STR16## wherein:
• R is hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or alkylamino,
• Alk is an alkylene group which may be interrupted by --O--, --S--, or --N(Q)-- wherein Q is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl group,
• X is --O--, --S-- or --N(Q)-- wherein Q has the above meaning, and the value of z and the significance of Y are interdependent:
• z being 1 for Y being hydroxy or the group --X'--Alk'--R' wherein X', Alk' and R' have the same significance as X, Alk and R,
• z being 2 for Y being --O--, --S-- or --N(Q)-- wherein Q has the above meaning, and
• z being a positive integer of at least 1 for Y being the residue of an aliphatic compound with more than one alcohol, thiol or amine function in which all or part of the alcohol-, thiol- or amine-hydrogen atoms are replaced by the group ##STR17## and wherein the or at least one of the hydroxyl groups may have been converted into groups of the formula --OZA wherein Z is CO, SO.sub.2 or CONH, and A is an alkyl or aryl group and wherein at least one of R, Alk, X and Y is or includes a thioether sulphur atom.

A photographic element containing at least one silver halide emulsion layer and a compound corresponding to the following general formula and containing in its molecule at least one thioether sulphur atom linked to two carbon atoms:

• ##STR21## wherein:
• R is hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or alkylamino,
• Alk is an alkylene group which may be interrupted by --O--, --S--, or --N(Q)-- wherein Q is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl group,
• X is --O--, --S-- or --N(Q)-- wherein Q has the above meaning, and the value of z and the significance of Y are interdependent:
• z being 1 for Y being hydroxy or the group --X'--Alk'--R' wherein X', Alk' and R' have the same significance as X, Alk and R,
• z being 2 for Y being --O--, --S-- or --N(Q)-- wherein Q has the above meaning, and
• z being a positive integer of at least 1 for Y being the residue of an aliphatic compound with more than one alcohol, thiol or amine function in which all or part of the alcohol-, thiol- or amine-hydrogen atoms are replaced by the group ##STR22## and wherein the or at least one of the hydroxyl groups may have been converted into groups of the formula -OZA wherein Z is CO, SO.sub.2 or CONH, and A is an alkyl or aryl group and wherein at least one of R, Alk, X and Y is or includes a thioether sulphur atom.