Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus

An electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising:

• an electroconductive support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the electroconductive support;
• wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a polymerizate of a hole-transporting compound having at least two chain polymerization function groups in its molecule represented by formula (1) below:
• (P1[Parenclosest]aA[Parenopenst]Z—(P2)d)b (1),
• wherein A denotes a hole-transporting group, P1 and P2 independently denote a chain polymerization function group and Z denotes a bonding organic group;
• a and b and d are independently an integer of at least 0 satisfying a+b×d≧2 provided that if a≧2, plural groups P1 can be identical or different;
• if b≧2, plural groups Z can be identical or different;
• and
• if b×d≧2, plural groups P2 can be identical or different;
• and
• the hole-transporting group A is such that a combination of A with a number (a+b) of hydrogen atoms instead of (P1[Parenclosest]a and [Parenopenst]Z—(P2)d)b as in the formula (1) would provide a hole-transporting compound that is a compound represented by a formula selected from formulae (4) and (6), or a condensed cyclic hydrocarbon compound or condensed heterocyclic compound having a group represented by formula (5) below:
• wherein R11 and R12 independently denote an alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group each capable of having a substituent;
• and
• Ar3 denotes an aryl group capable of having a substituent with the proviso that the compound of the formula (4) includes at least one group represented by formula (5) below:
• wherein R13 and R14 independently denote an alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group each capable of having a substituent, or a hydrogen atom;
• Ar4 denotes an aryl group capable of having a substituent;
• and n1 denotes 0, 1 or 2;
• wherein Ar5 and Ar6 independently denote an aryl group capable of having a substituent;
• and
• R15 denotes an alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group each capable of having a substituent with the proviso that the compound of the formula (6) includes at least one group represented by formula (7) below:
• wherein R16 and R17 independently denote an alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group each capable of having a substituent, or a hydrogen atom;
• Ar7 denotes an aryl group capable of having a substituent;
• n2 is 0, 1 or 2, and wherein the polymerizate is obtained by irradiating a coating layer comprising the hole-transporting layer with an electron beam to chain polymerize the hole-transporting compound by unsaturation polymerization or ring-opening polymerization.