Polymer for photoresist and resin compositions therefor

A (meth)acrylic ester derivative represented by following Formula (1):

• 47
• wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;
• m, p and q each denote an integer of from 0 to 2;
• and n denotes 0 or 1, where the (meth) acryloyloxy group and hydroxyl group in the formula are independently combined with either of two carbon atoms on the far-left portion of the rings.

A process for producing a (meth)acrylic ester derivative, the process comprising the step of allowing a cyclic alcohol represented by following Formula (4):

• 48
• wherein R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;
• m, p and q each denote an integer of from 0 to 2;
• n denotes 0 or 1, where the hydroxyl groups in the formula are independently combined with either of two carbon atoms on the far-left portion of the rings, to react with (meth)acrylic acid or a reactive derivative thereof to thereby yield a compound represented by following Formula (1):
• 49
• wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;
• and R2, R3, R4, R5, m, p, q, and n have the same meanings as defined above, where the (meth)acryloyloxy group and hydroxyl group in the formula are independently combined with either of two carbon atoms on the far-left portion of the rings.

A process for producing a cyclic alcohol, the process comprising the step of reducing an epoxy compound represented by following Formula (5):

• 50
• wherein R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;
• and m, p and q each denote an integer of from 0 to 2,
• to thereby yield a cyclic alcohol represented by following Formula (4a):
• 51
• wherein R2, R3, R4, R5, m, p, and q have the same meanings as defined above, where the hydroxyl group in the formula is combined with either of two carbon atoms on the far-left portion of the rings.

A cyclic alcohol represented by following Formula (4b):

• 52
• wherein R2, R3, R4and R5 are the same or different and are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;
• m denotes an integer of from 0 to 2;
• r and s each denote 0 or 1, where r plus s equals 1, and where the hydroxyl group in the formula is combined with either of two carbon atoms on the far-left portion of the rings.