Electrophotographic photoconductor, image forming method and apparatus, and process cartridge using the photoconductor, and long-chain alkyl group containing bisphenol compound and polymer made therefrom

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising:

• an electroconductive support and
• a photoconductive layer which is formed on said electroconductive support and comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin and a polyester resin, each of said resins comprising at least a structural unit represented by formula (1):
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoyxl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group represented by —(CH2)mCH3;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n and m are each an integer of 8 to 27;
• and
• wherein said photoconductive layer comprises a charge generation layer comprising a charge generation material and a charge transport layer comprising a charge transport material and at least one said resin, with said charge generation layer and said charge transport layer being successively overlaid on said electroconductive support in this order.