# US 5,348,845 A · Color image-stabilization processing solution used for processing a silver halide color photographic material and a processing method using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,348,845 A - Document ID: US5348845A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/034,121 - Filed: 1993-03-18 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1990-12-07 - Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Masakazu Morigaki; Hiroshi Kawamoto; Yoshihiro Fujita; Shigeru Nakamura; Hiroyuki Watanabe; Morio Yagihara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348845A ## CPC - G03C 7/3046: {Processing baths not provided for elsewhere, e.g. final or intermediate washings} - G03C: PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES (for photomechanical purposes G03F); PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY (photographic processes characterised by the use or manipulation of apparatus classifiable per se in subclass G03B, see G03B; photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces G03F; electrophotography, magnetography G03G) ## Abstract Disclosed is a color image-stabilization processing solution for a silver halide color photographic material containing at least one of (a) an N-methylol compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary to form a 1H-pyrazole ring or 1H-1,2,4-triazole ring together with the nitrogen atom; and (b) an N-methylol compound satisfying the condition that an equilibrium constant in water at room temperature is 2.times.10.sup.-2 mol/liter or less and a formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-5 sec.sup.-1 or more. This solution permits one to dispense formaldehyde and its attendant risks. Also disclosed is a method for processing silver halide color photographic materials using such a solution. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material, which comprises processing the photographic material with a color image-stabilization processing solution containing at least one of (a) an N-methylol compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR23## wherein X represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary to form a 1H-pyrazole ring or 1H-1,2,4-triazole ring together with the nitrogen atom; and (b) an N-methylol compound satisfying the condition that an equilibrium constant in water at room temperature is 1.5.times.10.sup.-2 mol/liter or less and a formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-4 sec .sup.-1 or more; wherein said processing solution is a conditioning solution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the N-methylol compound has a total number of carbon atoms of 15 or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the processing solution contains the N-methylol compound in an amount of 0.003 to 0.1 mol per liter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the equilibrium constant is 1.0.times.10.sup.-2 mol/liter or less. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-2 sec.sup.-1 or more. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein said silver halide color photographic material contains at least one tetraequivalent magenta coupler. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the N-methylol compound according to formula ( I ) is represented by the following formula (Ia): ##STR24## wherein Za represents --N.dbd., --CH.dbd. or --C(R.sub.2).dbd.; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a sulfo group, a carboxyl group, a phospho group, an acyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfinyl group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, an amino group, or --Y--Ra, in which Y represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and Ra represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; the above groups may be further substituted; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may combine with each other to form a 5- to 7-membered ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 7, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a halogen atom, a sulfo group, a carboxyl group, an acyloxy group, an amino group, an alkoxy group or an alkylthio group. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 7, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents a hydrogen atom or an unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 7, wherein all of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen atoms. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-3 sec.sup.-1 or more. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method for processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein the N-methylol compound contained in the color image-stabilization processing solution is according to formula (I). ### Claim 13 A color image-stabilization processing solution for a silver halide color photographic material containing at least one of (a) an N-methylol compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR25## wherein X represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary to form a 1H-pyrazole ring or 1H-1,2,4-triazole ring together with the nitrogen atom; and (b) an N-methylol compound satisfying the condition that an equilibrium constant in water at room temperature is 1.5.times.10.sup.-2 mol/liter or less and a formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-4 sec.sup.-1 or more; wherein said processing solution is a conditioning solution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 13, wherein the N-methylol compound has a total number of carbon atoms of 15 or less. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as n claim 13, wherein the processing solution contains the N-methylol compound in an amount of 0.003 to 0.1 mol per liter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 13, wherein the equilibrium constant is 1.0.times.10.sup.-2 mol/liter or less. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 13, wherein the formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-3 sec.sup.-1 or more. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 13, wherein the formaldehyde-releasing rate constant is 1.times.10.sup.-2 sec.sup.-1 or more. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 13, wherein the N-methylol compound according to formula (I) is represented by the following formula (Ia): ##STR26## wherein Za represents --N.dbd., --CH.dbd. or --C(R.sub.2).dbd.; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a sulfo group, a carboxyl group, a phospho group, an acyl group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfinyl group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, an amino group, or --Y--Ra, in which Y represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and Ra represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; the above groups may be further substituted; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may combine with each other to form a 5- to 7- membered ring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 19, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a halogen atom, a sulfo group, a carboxyl group, an acyloxy group, an amino group, an alkoxy group or an alkylthio group. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 19, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents a hydrogen atom or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 19, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen atoms. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The color image-stabilization processing solution as in claim 13, wherein the N-methylol compound contained in the color image-stabilization processing solution is according to formula (I).