Electrophotographic photoconductor, electrophotographic method, and electrophotographic apparatus

An electrophotographic method comprising:

• repeatedly performing a process comprising charging, imagewise exposing, developing and transferring on an electrophotographic photoconductor which comprises:
• an electrically conductive substrate;
• and
• at least a photoconductive layer laid on the electrically conductive substrate,
• wherein the photoconductive layer contains a diazapentadiene derivative represented by the following general formula (1):
• in the general formula (1), “X” represents the following general formula (a), (h) or (c);
• “R1” and “R2” each represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and may be the same or different;
• the “R1” and “R2” may be joined together via “Y” to form a ring;
• “Y” represents a single bond, an oxygen atom, —CH2CH2—, or —CH═CH—,
• in the general formula (a), (b) or (c), “R3” represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or a halogen group;
• “R4” represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group;
• “n” represents an integer ranging from 0 to 4;
• and when “n” is an integer of 2 to 4, “R3” may be the same or different.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

• a charging unit;
• an imagewise exposing unit;
• a developing unit;
• a transferring unit;
• and
• an electrophotographic photoconductor which comprises:
• an electrically conductive substrate;
• and
• at least a photoconductive layer laid on the electrically conductive substrate,
• wherein the photoconductive layer contains a diazapentadiene derivative represented by the following general formula (1);
• in the general formula (1), “X” represents the following general formula (a), (b) or (c);
• “R1” and “R2” each represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and may be the same or different;
• the “R1” and “R2” may be joined together via “Y” to form a ring;
• “Y” represents a single bond, an oxygen atom, —CH2CH2—, or —CH═CH—,
• in the general formula (a), (b) or (c), “R3” represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or a halogen group;
• “R4” represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group;
• “n” represents an integer ranging from 0 to 4;
• and when “n” is an integer of 2 to 4, “R3” may be the same or different.