Abstract: Dispersions of hydrophobic substances in water are prepared by dissolving the hydrophobic substance together with an ionomeric polyaddition or condensation product in an organic, water-miscible solvent or a mixture of such a solvent with water, diluting the solution with water and removing the organic solvent. The dispersions are excellently suitable for the preparation of photographic recording materials.

Abstract: Novel non-diffusing reducible compounds of formula I which under alkaline development conditions release a diffusible photographically useful compound are of use in color diffusion transfer processes. ##STR1## R.sup.0 completes a ring system; E represents a reducible group;W reduces the electron density in the position of E so that E is reducible under photographic development conditions;GR.sup.1 represents a group from which photographically useful compound R.sup.1 is released;XR.sup.2 represents a group that by reduction of E is activated to cooperate with GR.sup.1 in an intramolecular reaction with release of R.sup.1.

Abstract: .alpha.-Acylacetamide 2-equivalent yellow couplers may be prepared by reacting .alpha.-halo-.alpha.-acyl-acetamides with phenols or NH-acidic organic compounds in the presence of a non-alkylatable bicyclic nitrogen-containing base, such as 1,5-diazabicyclo[4,3,0]non-5-ene or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]-undec-7-ene.

Abstract: 2-Equivalent yellow couplers for the production of yellow dye images in color photographic silver halide materials have as splittable group a nitrogen-containing 6-membered heteroaromatic ring which is linked by the said nitrogen atom to the coupling position of the coupler molecule, contains a carbonyl group adjacent said nitrogen, and also contains one or two additional nitrogens as well as a fused-on aromatic carbocyclic ring. When the heteroaromatic ring contains two additional nitrogens, all three nitrogens are vicinal; when it contains only one additional nitrogen, the splittable group is a 1,3-quinazolinone-4 having at least one carboxy, with lower aliphatic alcohols esterified carboxy, nitro, methyl or chloro substituent.

Abstract: 2-Equivalent yellow couplers for the production of yellow dye images in color photographic silver halide materials have as splittable group a nitrogen-containing 6-membered heteroaromatic ring which is linked by the said nitrogen atom to the coupling position of the coupler molecule, contains a carbonyl group adjacent said nitrogen, and also contains one or two additional nitrogens as well as a fused-on aromatic carbocyclic ring. When the heteroaromatic ring contains two additional nitrogens, all three nitrogens are vicinal; when it contains only one additional nitrogen, the splittable group is a 1,3-quinazolinone-4 having at least one carboxy, lower-aliphatic-alcohols-esterified carboxy, nitro, methyl or chloro substituent.

Abstract: A one-stage process for the production of a 2-equivalent acylacetamide yellow coupler, in which one hydrogen atom of the .alpha.-methylene group of the acyl acetamide coupler molecule is substituted by a group which is attached through an oxygen or nitrogen atom and which can be split off during chromogenic development with an oxidized color developer containing a primary aromatic amino group, which process is carried out by reactingA 4-equivalent acylacetamide yellow coupler withA compound containing an aromatic hydroxyl group or an --NH-- group in a heterocyclic ringIn the presence of a halogen, or an agent which releases halogen, andA basic condensation agentIn a substantially aprotic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the production of aliphatic .beta.-keto esters by reacting a dialkyl ketone with a dialkylcarbonate in the presence of an at least equivalent quantity of a basic condensation agent based on the dialkyl ketone at a reaction temperature of 20.degree. to 80.degree. C and the reaction product is subsequently converted by acidification into the .beta.-keto ester. By carrying out the condensation reaction in the presence of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide as solvent advantageously higher yields of 20 to 50 % can be obtained by the inventive process of compared to conventional processes.