Abstract: A sulfonate resin according to the present invention has a repeating unit of the following general formula (3): where X each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; n represents an integer of 1 to 10; R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-C3 alkyl or fluorine-containing alkyl group; J represents a divalent linking group; and M+ represents a monovalent cation. This sulfonate resin contains a sulfonic acid onium salt in a side chain thereof, with an anion moiety of the sulfonic acid onium salt fixed to the sulfonate resin, and thus functions as a resist resin with good resist characteristics such as DOF, LER, sensitivity and resolution.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein n represents an integer of 1-4, and the two carboxylic groups are not adjacent to each other on the aromatic ring. It is possible to obtain a linear polymer compound by reacting the fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid with a comonomer (e.g., diaminodiol). By thermal cyclization, this linear polymer compound can be converted into another polymer compound having superior characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorinated sulfonic acid salt or fluorinated sulfonic acid group-containing compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (A). In the formula, n indicates an integer of 1 to 10; R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C15 aryl group, or a C4-C15 heteroaryl group; and a indicates 1 or 0. A photoacid generator containing the above fluorinated sulfonic acid salt or fluorinated sulfonic acid group-containing compound shows high sensitivity to an ArF excimer laser or the like, presents no concerns about human body accumulation, can generate an acid (photoacid) of sufficiently high acidity, and exhibits high solubility in a resist solvent and good compatibility with a resist resin.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein R1 represents a polymerizable double-bond containing group, R3 represents a fluorine atom or fluorine-containing alkyl group, and W represents a bivalent linking group. This compound can provide a fluorine-containing polymer compound that has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000-1,000,000 and contains a repeating unit represented by formula (2), wherein R3 and W are defined as above, each of R4, R5 and R6 independently represents a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom or monovalent organic group, at least two of R4, R5 and R6 may be combined to form a ring. This polymer compound can provide a chemically amplified resist composition that is transparent to KrF or ArF excimer laser light and has a high resolution and is capable of forming a pattern having a rectangular section with no swelling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol, which comprises reducing a bromodifluoroacetic acid derivative represented by the formula [1] by using an ate hydride complex as a reducing agent. 2-Bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol thus produced can be used as the starting material to carry out the esterification step, the sulfination step and the oxidation step in this order, thereby producing a 2-alkylcarbonyloxy-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt, wherein A represents a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, a heteroaryloxy group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorine-containing unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein R1 represents a polymerizable double-bond containing group, R3 represents a fluorine atom or fluorine-containing alkyl group, and W represents a bivalent linking group. This compound can provide a fluorine-containing polymer compound that has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000-1,000,000 and contains a repeating unit represented by formula (2), wherein R3 and W are defined as above, each of R4, R5 and R6 independently represents a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom or monovalent organic group, at least two of R4, R5 and R6 may be combined to form a ring. This polymer compound can provide a chemically amplified resist composition that is transparent to KrF or ArF excimer laser light and has a high resolution and is capable of forming a pattern having a rectangular section with no swelling.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing polymer of the present invention contains a repeating unit (a) of the general formula (2) and has a mass-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 1,000,000. This polymer is suitably used in a resist composition for pattern formation by high energy ray radiation of 300 nm or less wavelength or electron beam radiation or a top coat composition for liquid immersion lithography and is characterized as having high water repellency, notably high receding contact angle. In the formula, R1 represents a polymerizable double bond-containing group; R2 represents a fluorine atom or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; R8 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or the like; and W1 represents a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted methylene group or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water repellent additive for an immersion resist, which is composed of a fluorine-containing polymer that has a repeating unit represented by general formula (1). By adding the water repellent additive to a resist composition, the resist composition can be controlled to have high water repellency during exposure and to exhibit improved solubility in a developing solution during development. [In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group or a trifluoromethyl group; R2 represents a heat-labile protecting group; R3 represents a fluorine atom or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; and W represents a divalent linking group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a top coating composition formed on a resist film, for protecting the resist film, the top coating composition being a top coating composition for photoresist, characterized by containing a fluorine-containing polymer having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1). This composition is capable of controlling developing solution solubility and has a high water repellency. [In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom, methyl group or trifluoromethyl group, R2 represents a heat-labile protecting group, R3 represents a fluorine atom or fluorine-containing alkyl group, and W is a bivalent linking group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol, which comprises reducing a bromodifluoroacetic acid derivative represented by the formula [1] by using an ate hydride complex as a reducing agent. 2-Bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol thus produced can be used as the starting material to carry out the esterification step, the sulfination step and the oxidation step in this order, thereby producing a 2-alkylcarbonyloxy-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt, wherein A represents a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, a heteroaryloxy group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom.

Abstract: An ammonium hydroxyfluoroalkanesulfinate is obtained by using an organic base while sulfinating a bromofluoroalcohol with a sulfinating agent. An ammonium hydroxyfluoroalkanesulfonate is obtained by oxidizing the ammonium hydroxyfluoroalkanesulfinate. An onium fluoroalkanesulfonate is obtained by converting the ammonium hydroxyfluoroalkanesulfonate into an onium salt through esterification. This onium fluoroalkanesulfonate is useful as a photoacid generator in chemically amplified resists and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol, which comprises reducing a bromodifluoroacetic acid derivative represented by the formula [1] by using an ate hydride complex as a reducing agent. 2-Bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol thus produced can be used as the starting material to carry out the esterification step, the sulfination step and the oxidation step in this order, thereby producing a 2-alkylcarbonyloxy-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt, wherein A represents a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, a heteroaryloxy group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fluorine-containing polymer compound comprising a repeating unit (a) of the following general formula (2) and having a weight-average molecular weight of 1000 to 1000000 where R1 represents a polymerizable double bond-containing group; R2 represents a fluorine atom or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an acid labile group, a cross-linking site or the other monovalent organic group; and W1 represents a linking moiety. When the fluorine-containing polymer compound is used in a resist compound for pattern formation by high energy radiation of 300 nm or less wavelength or electron beam radiation, it is possible to form a resist pattern with a good rectangular profile.

Abstract: When sulfinating a carboxylic acid bromofluoroalkyl ester by using a sulfinating agent, an organic base is used, thereby obtaining a fluoroalkanesulfinic acid ammonium salt. This is oxidized to obtain a fluoroalkanesulfonic acid ammonium salt. This is used as the raw material and is converted to an onium salt or is converted to an onium salt by going through saponification and esterification, thereby obtaining a fluoroalkanesulfonic acid onium salt. This fluoroalkanesulfonic acid onium salt is useful as a photoacid generator used for chemically amplified resist materials, etc.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a polymer is obtained by polycondensation of a fluorinated dicarboxylic acid derivative of the general formula (M-1) or an acid anhydride of the fluorinated dicarboxylic acid with a polyfunctional compound having two to four reactive groups corresponding in reactivity to carbonyl moieties of the fluorinated dicarboxylic acid derivative or acid anhydride. [Chem. 134] AOCF2C-Q-CF2COA???(M-1) In the above formula, Q represents a divalent organic group having a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; and A and A? each independently represent an organic group. This polymer exhibits a sufficiently low dielectric constant for use as a semiconductor protection film and has the capability of forming a film at a relatively low temperature of 250° C. or lower.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein n represents an integer of 1-4, and the two carboxylic groups are not adjacent to each other on the aromatic ring. It is possible to obtain a linear polymer compound by reacting the fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid with a comonomer (e.g., diaminodiol). By thermal cyclization, this linear polymer compound can be converted into another polymer compound having superior characteristics.

Abstract: In the present invention, a target alkoxycarbonylfluoroalkanesulfonic acid salt is obtained by using a halofluoroalkanoic acid ester as a starting raw material, sulfinating the halofluoroalkanoic acid ester in the presence of an amine (as a first step), and then, oxidizing the resulting sulfination product (as a second step). Further, an alkoxycarbonylfluoroalkanesulfinic acid onium salt, which is useful as a photoacid generator, is obtained by salt exchange reaction of the alkoxycarbonylfluoroalkanesulfonic acid salt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein n represents an integer of 1-4, and the two carboxylic groups are not adjacent to each other on the aromatic ring. It is possible to obtain a linear polymer compound by reacting the fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid with a comonomer (e.g., diaminodiol). By thermal cyclization, this linear polymer compound can be converted into another polymer compound having superior characteristics.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a polymerizable fluorine-containing sulfonic acid onium salt of the following general formula (2) and a resin obtained by polymerization thereof. It is possible by the use of this sulfonate resin of the present invention to provide a resist composition with high resolution, board depth of focus tolerance (DOF), small line edge roughness (LER) and high sensitivity. In the formula, Z represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 straight or branched alkylene group, or a divalent moiety in which substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 straight or branched alkylene groups are bonded in series to a divalent group obtained by elimination of two hydrogen atoms from an alicyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon; R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a C1-C3 alkyl or fluorine-containing alkyl group; and Q+ represents a sulfonium cation or an iodonium cation.

Abstract: A resin that includes a repeating unit shown by the following formula (10) has an excellent performance as a radiation sensitive acid generator, and exhibits only a small adverse effect on the environment and a human body. wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, M+ represents a specific cation, and n is an integer from 1 to 5.