| abstract |
Photographic elements containing image-wise developable silver halide are developed in the presence of an oxathioether development activator according to the formula:n wherein:n R' is H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or R 2 -Y-(A"-X)m-A'-S-, A, A', and A" is alkylene, with the proviso that A is a monovalent bond when R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, X is -OCO-, -SO 2 -, -CONH-, or Y, Y is ligand or complexing function of the type of -S- and -N(Q)-(Q = H oralkyl), R 2 is alkyl, which may be substituted by OH, or when Y is -N(Q)-, R 2 together with Q may represent the atoms needed to complete a nitrogen-containing saturated ring, n is at least 2, and m is 0 or 1. n The development activators can be used in black-and-white development or in colour development. They can be incorporated in the photographic material or in the developing solution. n In reversal processing they can also accomplish the task of the second exposure or of the fogging agent to render the silver halide remaining after the first development developable. |