Photographic element with improved sensitivity and improved keeping

This invention comprises a photographic element comprising at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a fragmentable electron donating compound of the formula: X-Y′ or a compound which contains a moiety of the formula -X-Y′; wherein X is an electron donor moiety, Y′ is a leaving proton H or a leaving group Y, with the proviso that if Y′ is a proton, a base, − , is present in the emulsion layer, and wherein: 1) X-Y′ has an oxidation potential between 0 and about 1.4 V; and 2) the oxidized form of X-Y′ undergoes a bond cleavage reaction to give the radical X. and the leaving fragment Y′; and 3) the radical X. has an oxidation potential >−0.7V; said photographic element further comprising a reductone of the Formula 2: 1 wherein R 23 and R 24 are the same or different, and may represent H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or an alkyl group with a solubilizing group such as -OH, sulfonamide, sulfamoyl, or carbamoyl, or R 23 and R 24 may be joined to complete a heterocyclic ring, R 21 and R 22 are H, OH, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, or may together represent an alkylidene group, n is 1 or 2 and R 20 is H, alkyl, aryl, or CO 2 R 25 where R 25 is alkyl. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the photographic element is a multicolor photographic element.