Color photographic element containing a heterocyclic dye-forming coupler

A multi-color photographic element comprising a support bearing yellow, magenta and cyan image-dye-forming units comprising at least one blue-, green- or red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one yellow, magenta or cyan dye-forming coupler respectively, wherein the element includes a heterocyclic magenta or cyan dye-forming coupler of formula (I),

• wherein
• HET is a heterocyclic coupler comprising at least two fused rings and having at least one bridgehead nitrogen atom;
• S is bonded to a position of HET capable of releasing the heterocyclylthio moiety from HET upon reaction with oxidized developer;
• X is a heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, bonded to the carbon atom bearing the exocyclic S and to other ring atoms only;
• and
• Z are the atoms necessary to complete an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic ring or ring system, which may contain one or more other heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;
• provided also that the heterocyclylthio moiety released upon reaction with oxidized developer does not significantly inhibit silver development nor cause a bleach acceleration effect.

A process of forming an image in a photographic element as hereinbefore defined after the element has been imagewise exposed to light, comprising contacting the element with a color developing agent, wherein the element comprises at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a heterocyclic magenta or cyan dye-forming coupler of formula (I),

• wherein
• HET is a heterocyclic coupler comprising at least two fused rings and having at least one bridgehead nitrogen atom;
• S is bonded to a position of HET capable of releasing the heterocyclylthio moiety from HET upon reaction with oxidized developer;
• X is a heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, bonded to the carbon atom bearing the exocyclic S and to other ring atoms only;
• and
• Z are the atoms necessary to complete an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic ring or ring system, which may contain one or more other heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;
• provided also that the heterocyclylthio moiety released upon reaction with oxidized developer does not significantly inhibit silver development nor cause a bleach acceleration effect.