Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
NEW OXIME SULFONATES AND THE USE THEREOF AS LATENT SULFONIC ACIDS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1999/001429
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
New oximsulfonate compounds of formulae (I) or (II), wherein m is 0 or 1; x is 1 or 2; R¿1? is, for example phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted or R¿1? is a heteroaryl radical that is unsubstituted or substituted, or, if m is 0, R¿1? additionally is C¿2?-C¿6?alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl or CN; R'¿1? is for example C¿2?-C¿12?alkylene, phenylene; R¿2? has for example one of the meanings of R¿1?; n is 1 or 2; R¿3? is for example C¿1?-C¿18?alkyl, R'¿3? when x is 1, has one of the meanings given for R¿3?, or R'¿3? in formula (IV) and when x is 2 in formula (I), is for example C¿2?-C¿12? alkylene, phenylene; R¿4? and R¿5? are independently of each other for example hydrogen, halogen, C¿1?-C¿6?alkyl; R¿6? is for example hydrogen, phenyl; R¿7? and R¿8? are independently of each other for example hydrogen or C¿1?-C¿12?alkyl; R¿9? is for example C¿1?-C¿12?alkyl; A is S, O, NR¿6?, or a group of formula (A1), (A2), (A3) or (A4); R¿10? and R¿11? independently of each other have one of the meanings given for R¿4?; R¿12?, R¿13?, R¿14? and R¿15? independently of one another are for example hydrogen, C¿1?-C¿4?alkyl; Z is CR¿11? or N; Z¿1? is -CH¿2?-, S, O or NR¿6?, are useful as latent sulfonic acids, especially in photoresist applications.

Inventors:
YAMATO HITOSHI
BLEIER HARTMUT
BIRBAUM JEAN-LUC
KUNZ MARTIN
DIETLIKER KURT
DE LEO CHRISTOPH
ASAKURA TOSHIKAGE
Application Number:
PCT/EP1998/003750
Publication Date:
January 14, 1999
Filing Date:
June 19, 1998
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
CIBA GEIGY AG (CH)
International Classes:
C07C309/65; C07C309/66; C07C309/73; C07C323/63; C07C381/00; C07D207/44; C07D213/90; C07D333/34; C07D333/36; C07D333/44; G03F7/004; (IPC1-7): C07C381/00; C07C309/65; C07C309/66; C07C309/73; C07C323/63; C07D207/44; C07D213/90; C07D333/34; C07D333/44; G03F7/004
Foreign References:
EP0571330A11993-11-24
GB2306958A1997-05-14
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims
1. Compounds of the formulae I or ll wherein m isOor1; x is 1 or 2; R1 is phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals C1 C12alkyl, C1C4haloalkyl, halogen, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or Sphenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5 or 6membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg, with further substituents on the phenyl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring, or R1 is naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals naphthyl; anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by C1C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or Sphenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7Ra to form 5 or 6membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and /or Rg with further substituents on the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring, or R1 is a heteroaryl radical that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7Ra, SR9 and/or Sphenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5 or 6membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or R9 with further substituents on the heteroaryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the heteroaryl ring, or, if m is 0, R1 additionally is C2C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl or CN; or R1 is H or C1C12alkyl, with the proviso that R2 is not simultaneously H or alkyl; R'1 is C2C12alkylene, phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsubstituted or substituted by C1C12alkyl; R2 has one of the meanings of R1 or is unsubstituted or CNsubstituted pheny!, C2C6 alkanoyl, benzoyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8 and/or Sphenyl, or R2 is phenoxycarbonyl, NO2, C1C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1C6alkyl, unsubstituted or C1C12alkylsubstituted S(O)nC6C12aryl, SO2O C1C6alkyl, SO2OC6C10aryl, diphenylphosphinoyl or NHCONH2, or R1 and R2 together with the CO group, form a 5 or 6membered ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8 and/or Sphenyl, and said ring may additionally be interrupted by O, S, NR7 and/or by CO, and to which ring one or more benzo radicals may be fused; n is 1 or 2; or R3 is C1C18alkyl, phenylC1C3alkyl, camphoryl, C1C10haloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals halogen, C1 C4haloalkyl, CN, NO2, C1C16alkyl, phenyl, OR6, COORg, OCOC1C4alkyl, S020Rg and/or NR7R8; R'3 when x is 1, has one of the meanings given for R3, and when x is 2, R'3 is C2 C12alkylene, phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsubstituted or substituted by C1C12alkyl; R4 and R5 are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C1C6alkyl, C1C6alkoxy, C1C4haloalkyl, CN, NO2, C2C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, phenyl, Sphenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8, C2C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, S(O)nC1C6alkyi, unsubstituted or C1 C12alkylsubstituted S(O)nC6Cr2aryl, SO2OC1 C6alkyl, SO2OC6Cr0aryl or NHCONH2, or R4 and R5 together are C(R12)=C(R13)C(R14)=C(R15); R6 is hydrogen, phenyl, C1C12alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by phenyl, OH, C1 C12alkoxy, C1C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or by C2C6alkanoyl and said C1C12alkyl may additionally be interrupted by O; R7 and Ra are independently of each other hydrogen or C1C12alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by OH, C1C4alkoxy, C1C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or C1C6alkanoyl and said C1C12alkyl may additionally be interrupted by O, or R7 and R8 are phenyl, C2C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, C1 C6alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4methylphenyl)sulfonyl, naphthylsulfonyl, anthracylsulfonyl or phenanthrylsulfonyl, or R7 and Ra, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a 5, 6 or 7membered ring which may be interrupted by O or by NR6; R9 is C1 C12 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by OH and/or C1C4alkoxy and said C1C12alkyl may additionally be interrupted by O; A is S, O, NR6, or a group of formula Al, A2, A3 or A4 R10 and R11 independently of each other have one of the meanings given for R4, or R10 and R11 together are CONR6CO, or R10 and R11 together are C(R12)=C(R13)C(R14)=C(R15); R12, R13, R14 and R15 independently of one another are hydrogen, C1C4alkyl, halogen, phenyl, OR6, SR9, NR7R8, Sphenyl, C2C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, CN, NO2, C1C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1 C6alkyl, unsubstituted or C1C12alkylsubstituted S(O)nC6Cr2aryl, SO2OC1C6alkyl, SO2OC6C1 0aryl or NHCONH2; Z isCR11orN; Z1 is CH2, S, O or NR6.
2. Compounds according to claim 1 of the formula I and II, wherein m is 0; x is 1; Rt is unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted by C1C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SR9, Sphenyl, halogen and/or NR7R8, it being possible for the substituents OR6, and NR7R8 to form 5 or 6 membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7 and/or Ra, with further substituents of the phenyl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring; R'1 is phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsubstituted or substituted by C1C12alkyl.
3. Compounds according to claim 1, of the formula la wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and A are as defined in claim 1.
4. Compounds according to claim 3, of formula la, wherein R1 is unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted once or twice by C1C4alkyl, OR6 or halogen or R1 is naphthyl or thienyl; R2 is CN; R3 is C1C16alkyl, camphoryl or unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted by C1Ct2alkyl, C1C4alkoxy, C1C4alkylthio, C1C4haloalkyl, NO2 or halogen; R4 and R5 independently of each other are hydrogen, C1C4alkyl, C1C4alkoxy, NR7R8 or phenyl or R4 and R5 together are C(R12)=C(R13)C(R14)=C(R15); R6 is C1C4alkyl or C1C4alkylsulfonyl; R7 and R8 independently of one another are hydrogen or phenyl; A is S, NR6 or a group of the formula A1 Z is CR11 or N; and Rio, R11, R12, R13, R14 and R15 are hydrogen.
5. A composition comprising a) at least one compound that can be crosslinked under the action of an acid and/or b) at least one compound the solubility of which is altered under the action of an acid and c) as latent acid photoinitiator, at least one compound of the formulae I or Il according to claim 1.
6. A composition according to claim 5, which comprises in addition to component c) further photoinitiators, sensitisers and/or additives.
7. The use of compounds of the formulae I or ll according to claim 1, as photoinitiators for compounds that can be crosslinked under the action of an acid and/or as solubility inhibitors for compounds the solubility of which is altered under the action of an acid.
8. A method of crosslinking compounds that can be crosslinked under the action of an acid, which method comprises adding a compound of formula I and/or II according to claim 1 to the abovementioned compounds and irradiating imagewise or over the whole area with light having a wavelength of 1801500 nm.
9. The use of the composition according to any one of claims 5 or 6 for the preparation of surface coatings, printing inks, printing plates, dental compositions, colour filters, resist materials and as imagerecording material, or imagerecording material for recording holographic images.
10. The use of compounds of the formula I or II according to claim 1 as photosensitive acid donors in the production of surface coatings, printing inks, printing plates, dental compositions, colour filters, resist materials or imagerecording materials, or image recording materials for recording holographic images.
11. A photoresist based on oximesulfonates as photosensitive acid donors, the photoresist comprising as oximesulfonate a compound of formula i and/or II according to claim 1.
12. A photoresist according to claim 11, which photoresist is a negative resist.
13. A photoresist according to claim 11, which photoresist is a positive resist.
14. A photoresist according to claim 11, which photoresist is a chemically amplified resist.
15. A photoresist according to claim 11, comprising polymers that are transparent down to the wavelength region of 180 nm.
16. The use of a compound of formula I or II according to claim 1 as photosensitive acid donor in a photoresist.
17. A method for the preparation of surface coatings, printing inks, printing plates, dental compositions, colour filters, resist materials and as imagerecording material1 or image recording material for recording holographic images, which comprises irradiating a composition according to claim 5 with light having a wavelength of 1801500 nm.
Description:
New oxime sulfonates and the use thereof as latent sulfonic acids The invention relates to new oximesulfonate compounds, photopolymerisable compositions comprising said compounds and to the use of the compounds as latent sulfonic acid photoi- nitiators, which can be activated by irradiation with light.

In US 4540598 surface-coating compositions based on photosensitive oxime sulfonates and customary acid-curable resins are disclosed. In EP 571330 the use of a-(4-toluene-sulfonyl- oxyimino)-4-methoxybenzyl cyanide and a-(4-toluene-sulfonyloxyimino)-3-thienylmethyl cyanide as latent acid donors in positive and negative photoresists for wavelengths of 340- 390 nm, especially those in the radiation region of the mercury i line (365 nm) is described.

In GB 2306958 the use of oxime-sulfonates as latent acid donors in positive and negative photoresists for wavelengths between 180 and 600 nm, especially those in the radiation region beyond 390 nm is reported.

In the art, a need still exists, especially for reactive non-ionic latent acid donors that are ther- mally and chemically stable and that, after being activated by light, can be used as catalysts for a variety of acid-catalysed reactions, such as polycondensation reactions, acid-catalysed depolymerisation reactions, acid-catalysed electrophilic substitution reactions or the acid-ca- talysed removal of protecting groups. There is also a need for compounds that when irradi- ated with light are converted into acids and are capable of acting as solubility inhibitors in resist formulations. Furthermore there is a need for photolatent acids which can be bleached upon irradiation.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that specific oximesulfonates are especially suitable as catalysts for such reactions. The optical absorption spectra of the specific compounds of the invention are particularly tunable over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Furthermore they can be bleached upon irradiation.

Such oximesulfonates are for example represented by the formulae 1, it, Ill or IV (IV), wherein m is 0 or 1; x is 1 or 2; R1 is phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals C1-C12alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg, with further substituents on the phenyl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring, or R1 is naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals naphthyl, anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SRg and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7 R8 and /or Rg with further substituents on the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring, or R1 is a heteroaryl radical that is unsubstitu- ted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, Ra and/or Rg with further substituents on the heteroaryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the heteroaryl ring, or, if m is 0, R1 additionally is C2-C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxy- carbonyl or CN; or R1 is H or C1-C12alkyl, with the proviso that R2 is not simultaneously H or alkyl; R'1 is C2-C12alkylene, phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, these radicals being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C12alkyl; R"1 when x is 1, is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals Ci- C12alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9, and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, NR7R8 and SRg to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg, with further substituents on the phenyl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring, or R"1 is naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals naphthyl, anthra- cyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SRg, and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, NR7R8 and SRg to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg, with further substituents on the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring, or with one of the carbon atoms of the naphthyl, an- thracyl or phenanthryl ring, or R"1 is a heteroaryl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substi- tuents OR6, NR7R8 and SRg to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg, with further substituents on the heteroaryl ring, or with one of the carbon atoms of the heteroaryl ring, or R"1, when x=2, has one of the meanings of R'1; R"'1 is phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals C1-C12alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SRg and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg, with further substituents on the phenyl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring, or R"'1 is naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals naphthyl, anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and /or Rg with further substituents on the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring, or R"'1 is a heteroaryl radical that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg with further sub- stituents on the heteroaryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the heteroaryl ring; R2 has one of the meanings of R1 or is unsubstituted or CN-substituted phenyl, C2-C6alkanoyl, ben- zoyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8 and/or -S- phenyl, or R2 is phenoxycarbonyl, NO2, C1-C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1-C6alkyl, unsubstituted or Ci- C12alkyl-substituted S(O)n-C6-C12aryl, SO2O-C1 -C6alkyl, SO2O-C6-C1 oaryl, diphenyl-phos- phinoyl or NHCONH2, or R1 and R2 together with the CO group, form a 5- or 6-membered ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8 and/or -S-phenyl, and said ring may additionally be interrupted by O, S, NR7 and/or by CO, and to which ring one or more benzo radicals may be fused; n is 1 or 2; or R3 is C1-C18alkyl, phenyl- C1-C3alkyl, camphoryl, C1-C10haloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals halogen, C1-C4haloalkyl, CN, NO2, C1-C16alkyl, phenyl, OR6, COORg, -OCO-C1-C4alkyl, SO2ORg and/or NR7Ra; R'3 when x is 1, has one of the meanings given for R3, or R'3 in the formula IV and when x is 2 in the formula I, is C2-C12alkylene, phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, these radicals being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C12alkyl; R4 and R5 are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkyl, CN, NO2, C2-C6al- kanoyl, benzoyl, phenyl, -S-phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8, C2-C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbo- nyl, S(O)nC1-C6alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C12alkyl-substituted S(O)n-C6-C12aryl, SO2O-C1 - C6alkyl, SO2O-C6-C10aryl or NHCONH2, or R4 and R5 together are -C(R12)=C(R13)- C(R14)=C(R15)-; R6 is hydrogen, phenyl, C1-C12alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by phenyl, OH, C1-C12alkoxy, C1-C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/- or by C2-C6alkanoyl and said C1-C12alkyl may additionally be interrupted by -O-; R7 and R8 are independently of each other hydrogen or C1-C12alkyl which is unsubstituted or substitu- ted by OH, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or C1-C6alkanoyl and said C1-C,2alkyl may additionally be interrupted by -O-, or R7 and R8 are phenyl, C2-C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, C1-C6alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl, naphthylsulfonyl, anthracylsulfonyl or phenanthrylsulfonyl, or R7 and R8, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring which may be interrupted by -O- or by -NR6-; Rg is C1-C12 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by OH and/or C1-C4alkoxy and said C1-C12alkyl may additionally be interrupted by -O-; A is S, O, NR6, or a group of formula Al, A2, A3 or A4 (A4); R10 and R11 independently of each other have one of the meanings given for R4, or R10 and R11 together are -CO-NR6CO-, or R10 and R11 together are -C(R12)=C(R13)-C(R14)=C(R15)-; R12, R13, R14 and R15 independent- ly of one another are hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, halogen, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8, -S-phenyl, C2-C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, CN, NO2, C1-C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1 -C6alkyl, unsub- stituted or C1-C12alkyl-substituted S(O)n-C6-C12aryl, SO2O-C1-C6alkyl, SO2O-C6-C10aryl or NHCONH2; Z is CR11 or N; Z1 is -CH2-, S, O or NR6.

Accordingly, the present invention pertains to compounds of the formulae I or II wherein m isOor1; x is 1 or 2; R1 is phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals C1- C12alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, halogen, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, Ra and/or Rg, with further substituents on the phenyl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring, or R1 is naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals naphthyl, anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7 Ra and /or Rg with further substituents on the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl ring, or R1 is a heteroaryl radical that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9 and/or -S-phenyl, it being possible for the substituents OR6, SRg and NR7Ra to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 and/or Rg with further substituents on the heteroaryl ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the heteroaryl ring, or, if m is 0, R1 additionally is C2-C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl or CN; or R1 is H or C1-C12alkyl, with the proviso that R2 is not simultaneously H or alkyl; R'1 is C2-C12alkylene, phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsubstituted or substituted by C-C12alkyl; R2 has one of the meanings of R1 or is unsubstituted or CN-substituted phenyl, C2-C6- alkanoyl, benzoyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8 and/or -S-phenyl, or R2 is phenoxycarbonyl, NO2, C1-C4haloalkyi, S(O)nC1 -C6alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C12alkyl-substituted S(O)n-C6-C12aryl, SO2O- C1 -C6alkyl, SO2O-C6-C10aryl, diphenyl-phosphinoyl or NHCONH2, or R1 and R2 together with the CO group, form a 5- or 6-membered ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8 and/or -S-phenyl, and said ring may additionally be interrupted by O, S, NR7 and/or by CO, and to which ring one or more benzo radicals may be fused; n is 1 or 2; or R3 is C1-C18alkyl, phenyl-C1-C3alkyl, camphoryl, C1-C10haloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl or phenanthryl, the radicals phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl and phenanthryl being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals halogen, C1- C4haloalkyl, CN, NO2, C1-C16alkyl, phenyl, OR6, COORg, -OCO-C1-C4alkyl, SO2OR9 and/or NR7R8; R'3 when x is 1, has one of the meanings given for R3, and when x is 2, R'3 is C2- C12alkylene, phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C12alkyl; R4 and R5 are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkyl, CN, NO2, C2-C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, phenyl, -S-phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8, C2-C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, S(O)nC1-C6alkyl, unsubstituted or C1 - C12alkyl-substituted S(O)n-C6-C12aryl, SO2O-C1-C6alkyl, SO2O-C6-C10aryl or NHCONH2, or R4 and R5 together are -C(R12)=C(R13)-C(R14)=C(R15)-; R6 is hydrogen, phenyl, C1-C12alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by phenyl, OH, C1 -C12alkoxy, C1-C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or by C2-C6alkanoyl and said C,-C12alkyl may additionally be interrupted by -O-; R7 and Ra are independently of each other hydrogen or C1-C12alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by OH, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or C1-C6alkanoyl and said C1 -C1 2alkyl may additionally be interrupted by -O-, or R7 and Ra are phenyl, C2-C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, C1- C6alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl, naphthylsulfonyl, anthracylsulfonyl or phenanthrylsulfonyl, or R7 and Ra, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring which may be interrupted by -O- or by -NR6-; Rg is C1-C12 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by OH and/or C1-C4alkoxy and said C1-C12aikyl may additionally be interrupted by -O-; A is S, O, NR6, or a group of formula Al, A2, A3 or A4 R10 and R11 independently of each other have one of the meanings given for R4, or R10 and R11 together are -CO-NR6CO-, or R10 and R11 together are -C(R12)=C(R13)-C(R14)=C(R15)-; R12, R13, R14 and R15 independently of one another are hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, halogen, phenyl, OR6, SRg, NR7R8, -S-phenyl, C2-C6alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, CN, NO2, C1-C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1-C6alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C12alkyl-substituted S(O)n-C6-C12aryl, SO2O-C1 -C6alkyl, SO2O-C6-C1 0aryl or NHCONH2; Z is CR11 or N; Z1 is -CH2-, S, O or NR6.

C1-C18Alkyl is linear or branched and is, for example, C1-C12-, C1-C8-, C1-C6- or C1-C4-alkyl.

Examples are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tetra- decyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl and octadecyl. For example, R3 is C1-Caalkyl, es- pecially C1-C6alkyl, preferably C1-C4alkyl, such as methyl, isopropyl or butyl.

C1-C16Alkyl and C1-C12alkyl are likewise linear or branched and are, for example, as defined above up to the appropriate number of carbon atoms. Of interest are, for example, C1-C8-, especially C1 -C6-, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, such as methyl or butyl.

C2-C12Alkyl, which is interrupted once or several times by -O- or by -S-, is interrupted, for ex- ample, from one to five times, for example from one to three times or once or twice, by -O- or -S-.That results in structural units such as: -S(CH2)2OH, -O(CH2)2OH, -O(CH2)2OCH3, -O(CH2CH2O)2CH2CH3, -CH2-O-CH3, -CH2CH2-O-CH2CH3, [CH2CH2O]yCH3 wherein y = 1-5, -(CH2CH2O)5CH2CH3, -CH2-CH (CH3)-O-CH2-CH2CH3 or -CH2-CH(CH3)-O-CH2- CH3.

C5-C12Cycioalkyl is, for example, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cyclododecyl, especially cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl, preferably cyclohexyl.

C2-C12Alkylene is linear or branched and is, for example, C2-C3-, C2-C6- or C2-C4-alkylene.

Examples are ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, no- nylene, decylene, undecylene and dodecylene. For example, R3 is C1-Caalkylene, especially C1-C6alkylene, preferably C1-C4alkylene, such as methylene or butylene.

Substituted phenyl carries from one to five, for example one, two or three, especially one or two, substituents on the phenyl ring. The substitution is preferably in the 4-, 3,4-, 3,5- or 3,4,5-position of the phenyl ring.

When the radicals naphthyl, phenanthryl, heteroaryl and anthracyl are substituted by one or more radicals, they are, for example, mono- to penta-substituted, for example mono-, di- or tri-substituted, especially mono- or di-substituted.

When R1 is a phenyl radical substituted by OR6, NR7R8 and/or by SR9 and the substituents OR6, NR7Ra and SRg form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7, R8 or R9, with other substituents on the phrnal ring or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring, for example the following structural units are obtained In the present application, the term "heteroaryl" denotes unsubstituted and substituted radi- cals, for example 2-thienyl, wherein R7 and R8 are as defined above, thianthrenyl, isobenzofuranyl, xanthenyl, phenoxanthiinyl, or wherein X is S, O or NR7 and R7 is as defined above. Examples thereof are pyrazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isothiazolyl or isoxazolyl. Also included are, for example, furyl, pyrrolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, or 5-membered ring heterocycles having a fused-on aro- matic group, for example benzimidazolyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, benzoxazolyl and ben- zothiazolyl.

Other examples of "heteroaryls" are pyridyl, especially 3-pyridyl, wherein R6 is as defined above, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, 2,4-, 2,2- or 2,3-diazinyl, indoli- zinyl, isoindolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, isoquinolyl, quinolyl, phenoxazinyl or phenazinyl. In this Application, the term "heteroaryl" also denotes the radicals thioxanthyl, xanthyl, wherein R6, R7, R8 and m are as defined above, or anthraquinonyl. Each of the heteroaryls may carry the substituents indicated above or in claim 1.

Camphoryl is When R1 and R2 together with the CO group form a 5- or 6-membered ring, it is, for ex- ample, a cyclopentane, cyclohexane, pyran or piperidine ring. There may be fused to that ring, for example, also benzo, naphtho, anthraceno, phenanthreno or heteroaryl radicals, there being formed structures such as wherein " 9 " denote the remaining parts of formula I, and wherein X is S, O or NR7 and R7 is as defined above, and in which structures the aromatic rings may carry further substitu- ents as definded above and in claim 1.

Apparently these structures are not strictly "R1 and R2 together", but are partial illustrations of the final compounds.

They are, for example, also tetrahydronaphthalene, dihydroanthracene, indan, chroman, flu- orene, xanthene or thioxanthene ring systems. When the ring contains carbonyl groups, for example benzoquinone, naphthoquinone or anthraquinone radicals are formed.

C1-C6Alkanoyl is, for example, formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl or hexanoyl, especially ace- tyl.

C1-C4Alkoxy is, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and butoxy, it being possible for the alkyl radicals in alkoxy groups having more than two carbon atoms also to be branched.

C2-C6Alkoxycarbonyl is (C1-C5alkyl)-O-C(O)-, wherein C1-C5aikyl is as defined above up to the appropriate number of carbon atoms. Examples are methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl or pentyloxycarbonyl, it being possible for the alkyl radicals in alkoxy groups having more than two carbon atoms also to be branched.

C1-C10Haloalkyl and C1-C4haloalkyl are C1 -C10- and C1-C4-alkyl mono- or poly-substituted by halogen, C1-C10- and C1-C4-alkyl being, for example, as defined above. There are, for exam- ple, from one to three or one or two halogen substituents at the alkyl radical. Examples are chioromethyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl or 2-bromopropyl, especially trifluoromethyl or trichloromethyl.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, especially chlorine or fluorine, preferably chlorine.

In a group S(O)n-C6-C10aryl that may be unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C12alkyl, the aryl radical is phenyl, tosyl, dodecylphenylsulfonyl or 1- or 2-naphthyl.

Phenyl-C1-C3alkyl is, for example, benzyl, 2-phenylethyl, 3-phenylpropyl, a-methylbenzyl or a,a-dimethylbenzyl, especially benzyl.

Oxydiphenylene is When R7 and Ra together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a 5-, 6- or 7- membered ring that may be interrupted by -O- or by -NR6-, for example the following struc- tures are obtained Preference is given to compounds of formula I and II, wherein m is 0; x is 1; R1 is unsubstitu- ted phenyl or phenyl which is substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, -S-phenyl, halo- gen and/or by NR7R6, it being possible for the substituents OR6, and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6- membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7 and/or Ra with further substituents of the phenyl ring, or with one of the carbon atoms of the phenyl ring; R'1 is phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naph- thylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C12alkyl.

Other interesting compounds are those of formula I, wherein x is 1; m is 0; R1 is unsubstitu- ted phenyl or phenyl substituted once or twice by C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy or halogen; R2 is CN; R3 is C1-C16alkyl or unsubstituted or C1-C4alkyl-substituted phenyl; R4 and R5 indepen- dently of each other are hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl or C1-C4alkoxy; A is -S- or a group of the for- mula A1; Z is CR11; and R10 and R11 are hydrogen.

Compounds of the formula I, wherein m is 0 and x is 1 are specifically preferred and in the following are referred to as compounds of the formula la (la), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and A are as defined above.

Preferred are compounds of formula la, wherein R1 is unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted once or twice by C1-C4alkyl, OR6 or halogen or R1 is naphthyl or thienyl; R2 is CN; R'3 has one of the meanings of R3 and is C1-C16alkyl, camphoryl or unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted 1-5 times by C1-C12alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkyl, C1-C4alkylthio, NO2 or halogen; R4 and R5 independently of each other are hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, NR7R8 or phenyl or R4 and R5 together are -C(R12)=C(R13)-C(R14)= C(R15)-; R6 is C1-C4alkyl or C1-C4alkylsulfonyl; R7 and Ra independently of one another are hydrogen or phenyl; A is -S-, NR6 or a group of the formula A1 Z is CR11 or N; and R10, R11, R12, R13, R14 and R15 are hydrogen.

Further compounds of interest are those wherein in the formula la, wherein R1 is a heteroaryl radical that is unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, OR6, SRg, -S-phenyl and/or by NR7R8, it being possible for the substituents OR6 and NR7R8 to form 5- or 6-membered rings, via the radicals R6, R7 and/or Ra, with further substi- tuents or with one of the carbon atoms of the heteroaryl ring.

Further compounds of interest are those of the formula II, wherein R'1 is phenylene, naphthy- lene, diphenylene or oxydiphenylene, the radicals phenylene, naphthylene, diphenylene and oxydiphenylene being unsub- stituted or substituted by C1-C12alkyl; Mention should be made of compounds of formula la and II wherein R2 is CN, C2-C6alkoxy- carbonyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1-C6alkyl, or unsubstituted or C1-C12alkyl-substituted S(O),- C6-C1 oaryl.

Other examples of compounds are those of formula Ia or II wherein R1 and R2 are CN, C2- C6alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, S(O)nC1 -C6alkyl, or unsubstituted or C1-C12alkyl-substitu- ted S(O)n-C6-C10aryl.

Most preferred compounds are those of formula la or II, where R1 is phenyl (substituted as defined above) or a heteroaryl radical (substituted as defined above) and R2 is CN.

Preference is given especially to compounds of formula la and li wherein R6 is C1-C6alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by OH, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or by C2-C6alkanoyl and that may additionally be interrupted by -O-.

Preference is given also to compounds of formula la and II wherein R3 is C1-C18alkyl, C1-C10haloalkyl, or phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, NO2, C1-C4haloalkyl, C1-C16alkyl or C1-C12alkyl, OR4, COOR7 and/or by -OCO-C1-C4alkyl.

Preference is given likewise compounds of formula la and II wherein R4 and R5 are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C1 -C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkyl, NO2, C2-C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, OR6, or R4 and R5 together are -CH=CH-CH=CH-; R7 and Ra are independently of each other hydrogen or C1-C12alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by OH, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C12alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl and/or by C1-C6alkanoyl and that may additionally be interrupted by -O-, or R7 and Ra are phenyl, C2-C6alkanoyl, benzoyl, C1-C6alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (4-meth- ylphenyl)sulfonyl, naphthylsulfonyl, anthracylsulfonyl or phenanthrylsulfonyl, or R7 and Ra, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a 5-, 6- or 7- membered ring which may be interrupted by -O- or by -NR6-; and Rg is C1-C12 alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by OH and/or by C1-C4alkoxy and that may additionally be interrupted by -O-.

A is S, O, NR6, or a group of formula Al, A2 or A3; R10 and R11 independently of each other have one of the meanings of R4; and Z is CR11 or N.

Specific examples of compounds according to the present invention are (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimi no-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth oxyphenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-(4-Methylphenylsulfonyloxyimino)-cyclohexa-2,5-dienyliden e)-(4-methoxyphenyl)-acetoni- trile; (4-MethylsulfonylOxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth ylphenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-meth ylphenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-di methylphenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-thiophe n-2-yl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acet onitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-MethylsulfonylOxyimino-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene) -phenyl-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene )-phenyl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(2-meth ylphenyi)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> Biphenyl-4-yl-(4-methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl idene)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-di methoxyphenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-2,5-dichlorocyclohexa-2,5-dienylid ene)-phenyl-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-meth oxyphenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(4-methylph enyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-chlo rophenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-naphtha len-i -yl-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methylph enyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(2-meth oxyphenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2,6-dichlo rophenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-(3-Nitro-5-trifl uornmethylphenylsulfonyloxyimino)-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene) -phenyl-acE- tonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-Pentafluorophenylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylide ne)-phenyl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Ethylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-aceto nitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2 ,5-dienylidene)-(2-chlorophenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Butylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-aceto nitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-6-methoxy-5H-pyridin-2-ylidene)-ph enyl-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-phenyicyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene) -phenyl-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-chloroph enyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-(3-Nitro-5-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyloxyimino)-5H-thio phen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acetoni- trile; (4-Butyl-5-methylsulfonyloxyimino -5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-4H-naphthalen-1 -ylidene)-(4-chlorophenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Pentafluorophenylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)- phenyl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(4-methylsu lfonylOxyphenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methOxyp henyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino -1-methyl-i ,5-dihydro-pyrrol-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-phenylam ino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-(4-Methylphenylsulfonyloxyimino)-5H-thiophen-2-yiidene)-( 2-methylphenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Butylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methylphe nyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Hexadecylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methy lphenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Octylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methylphe nyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(2,4-di chlorophenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-lsopropylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(2,4 -dichlorophenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Butylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(2,4-dic hlorophenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Octylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(2,4-dic hlorophenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-(4-Methylphenyl)sulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienyliden e)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-aceto- nitrile; (4-(4-Dodecylphenyl)sulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylide ne)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-aceto- nitrile; (4-(4-Dodecylphenyl)sulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylide ne)-phenyl-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-(2,4,6-Trimethylphenylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylid ene)-(2-methylphenyl)-acetoni- trile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth ylthiophenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-(1 0-Camphorsulfonyloxyimino)-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methylp henyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-(2-p ropylthio)phenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-di methylthiophenyl)-acetonitrile; (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-dime thylaminophenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(4-(2-propy l)phenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(2-methylth iophenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(4-methylth iophenyl)-acetonitrile; (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(3,4-dimeth oxyphenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-MethylsulfonylOxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-(4-dimethyl aminophenyl)-acetonitrile; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-thiophen-2- yl-acetonitrile.

The invention also relates to mixtures of isomeric forms of the compounds of formula I, la and II. Oximesulfonates can be present both in the syn (cis, Z) and the anti (trans, E) form or as mixtures of the two geometrical isomers. In addition, the substituted methylidene group C(R1)R2 can exhibit two (cis and trans) isomers. Depending on R4, R5 and A, this can result in up to for geometrical isomers. In the present invention, both the individual geometrical iso- mers and any mixtures of two, three or four geometrical isomers can be used.

Oximesulfonates (of formulae I, la and il) can be prepared by methods described in the literature, for example by reacting suitable free oximes (of formula IVa and IVb) with sulfonic acid halides (of formula V): R1, R'1, R2, R3, R4, R5, A, m and x are as defined above.

These reactions are carried out in an inert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) or dimeth- ylformamide (DMF) in the presence of a base, for example a tertiary amine, such as triethyl- amine, or by reaction of the salt of an oxime with a sulfonic acid chloride. Those methods are disclosed, for example, in EP-A 48615. The sodium salts of oximes can be obtained, for example, by reacting the oxime in question with a sodium alcoholate in DMF.

The oximes of formula IVa required for the reaction can be prepared according to known procedures, for example by reacting benzyl cyanides or cyanomethyl heterocycles with nitro- benzenes or nitronaphtalenes in the presence of a base (such as, for example, sodium methoxide or potassium hydroxide) in a polar solvent such as, for example, methanol or DMF, as described by R.B. Davis, L.C. Pizzini & E.J. Bara, J. Org. Chem. 26, 4270 (1961) or P. Fournary and T. Marey, Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 3223 (1968). Temperatures of -80°C to 80"C, especially -10°C to 60"C are suitable for the reaction. Phase transfer catalysis is also suit- able to prepare oxime intermediates of formula IVa. K.Takahashi, et al. have described the use of benzyltriethyl ammonium chloride and 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide for the reac- tion of nitrobenzene with benzyl cyanide (K.Takahashi,T.Tsuboi, K. Yamada, H. lida, Nippon Kagaku Kaishi 144-7(1976); Chemical Abstract No. 84:105162).

Oximes of formula IVa and IVb have also been prepared as intermediates in the synthesis of various pharmaceutical compounds (e.g. US 5,043,327, US 5,521,187; EP-A-371564, EP-A- 541153, ES-A-524551) or for use as UV absorbers (for instance, in US 3,374,248).

Oximes can also be obtained by reacting a suitable carbonyl or thionylcarbonyl compound with hydroxylamine or a hydroxylammonium salt.

The preparation of sulfonic acid halides (of formula V), for example by halosulfonation or by the Reed reaction, is familiar to a person skilled in the art and is described, for example, in customary chemistry textbooks.

The invention relates also to the use of compounds of formulae I and Il as descriibed above, as photoinitiators for compounds that can be crosslinked under the action of an acid and/or as solubility inhibitors for compounds the solubility of which is altered under the action of an acid.

In photocrosslinkable compositions, oximesulfonates act as latent curing catalysts: when ir- radiated with light they release acid which catalyses the crosslinking reaction. in addition, the acid released by the radiation can, for example, catalyse the removal of suitable acid-sen- sitive protecting groups from a polymer structure, or the cleavage of polymers containing acid-sensitive groups in the polymer backbone. Other applications are, for example, colour- change systems based on a change in the pH or in the solubility of, for example, a pigment protected by acid-sensitive protecting groups.

Finally, oximesulfonates that are sparingly soluble in an aqueous-alkaline developer can be rendered soluble in the developer by means of light-induced conversion into the free acid, with the result that they can be used as solubility inhibitors in combination with suitable film- forming resins.

The invention therfore also pertains to a composition comprising a) at least one compound that can be crosslinked under the action of an acid and/or b) at least one compound the solubility of which is altered under the action of an acid and c) as latent acid photoinitiator, at least one compound of the formulae I or II as described above.

These compositions may in addition to component c) comprise further photoinitiators, sen- sitizers and/or additives.

Resins which can be crosslinked by acid catalysis are, for example, mixtures of polyfuncti- onal alcohols or hydroxy-group-containing acrylic and polyester resins, or partially hydro- lysed polyvinylacetals or polyvinyl alcohols with polyfunctional acetal derivatives. Under certain conditions, for example the acid-catalysed self-condensation of acetal-functionalised resins is also possible.

In addition, oximesulfonates can be used, for example, as hardeners, which can be activated by light, for siloxane group-containing resins. Those resins can, for example, either undergo self-condensation by means of acid-catalysed hydrolysis or be crosslinked with a second component of the resin, such as a polyfunctional alcohol, a hydroxy-group-containing acrylic or polyester resin, a partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetal or a polyvinyl alcohol. That type of polycondensation of polysiloxanes is described, for example, in J.J. Lebrun, H. Pode, Comprehensive Polymer Science, Vol. 5, p. 593, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1989.

It is desirable in those reactions for the acid to be released when irradiated with light of var- ious wavelength. Surprisingly, it has been found that these structurally new oximesulfonates are thermally and chemically stable and in addition capable of releasing the acid when ir- radiated with light. In addition they are bleached after exposure to light, a property which is very helpful for homogeneous generation of the acid throughout the entire thickness of the compositions irradiated by the light and which property is used for the curing of thick layers or the production of colourless articles with visible light.

Oximesulfonates can be used as hardeners, which can be activated by light, for acid-curable resins. Suitable acid-curable resins are all resins the curing of which can be accelerated by acid catalysts, such as aminoplasts or phenolic resole resins. Those resins are especially melamine, urea, epoxy, phenolic, acrylic, polyester and alkyd resins, but especially mixtures of acrylic, polyester or alkyd resins with a melamine resin. Also included are modified surface-coating resins, such as acrylic-modified polyester and alkyd resins. Examples of individual types of resins that are covered by the expression acrylic, polyester and alkyd resins are described, for example, in Wagner, Sarx/Lackkunstharze (Munich, 1971), pages 86 to 123 and 229 to 238, or in Ullmann/Encyclopädie der techn. Chemie, 4th Edition, Volume 15 (1978), pages 613 to 628, or Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Verlag Chemie, 1991, Vol. 18, 360 ff., Vol. A19, 371 ff..

The composition can for example be used as a surface coating.

The surface coating preferably comprises an amino resin. Examples thereof are etherified or non-etherified melamine, urea, guanidine or biuret resins. Acid catalysis is especially impor- tant in the curing of surface coatings comprising etherified amino resins, such as methylated or butylated melamine resins (N-methoxymethyl- or N-butoxymethyl-melamine) or methylated/butylated glycolurils. Examples of other resin compositions are mixtures of polyfunctional alcohols or hydroxy-group-containing acrylic and polyester resins, or partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl alcohol with polyfunctional dihydropropanyl deri- vatives, such as derivatives of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-carboxylic acid. As already mentioned above, for example polysiloxanes can also be crosslinked using acid catalysis. Other cationically polymerisable materials that are suitable for the preparation of surface coatings are ethylenically unsaturated compounds polymerisable by a cationic mechanism, such as vinyl ethers, for example methyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, trimethylolpropane trivinyl ether, ethylene glycol divinyl ether; cyclic vinyl ethers, for example 3,4-dihydro-2-formyl-2H- pyran (dimeric acrolein) or the 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-carboxylic acid ester of 2-hydroxy- methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran; vinyl esters, such as vinyl acetate and vinyl stearate, mono- and di-olefins, such as a-methylstyrene, N-vinylpyrrolidone or N-vinylcarbazole.

For certain purposes, resin mixtures having monomeric or oligomeric constituents containing polymerisable unsaturated groups are used. Such surface coatings can also be cured using compounds of formula I or 11. In that process, a) radical polymerisation initiators or b) pho- toinitiators can additionally be used. The former initiate polymerisation of the unsaturated groups during heat treatment, the latter during UV irradiation.

According to the invention, the compositions, which can be activated by light, may comprise further photoinitiators, sensitisers and/or additives in addition to component c), or the com- pounds of formula I or II can be used together with further photoinitiators, sensitisers and/or additives.

Examples of additional photoinitiators are radical photoinitiators, such as those from the class of the benzophenones, acetophenone derivatives, such as a-hydroxycycloalkylphenyl ketone, dialkoxyacetophenone, a-hydroxy- or a-amino-acetophenone, 4-aroyl-1 ,3-dioxolans, benzoin alkyl ethers and benzil ketals, monoacylphosphine oxides, bisacylphosphine oxides or titanocenes. Examples of especially suitable additional photoinitiators are: 1-(4-dodecyl- benzoyl)-1 -hydroxy-1 -methyl-ethane, 1 -(4-isopropylbenzoyl)-1 -hydroxy-l -methyl-ethane, 1- <BR> <BR> <BR> benzoyl-1 -hydroxy-1 -methyl-ethane, 1 -[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-benzoyl]- 1 -hydroxy- 1-methyl- ethane, 1 -[4-(acryloyloxyethoxy)-benzoyl]- 1 -hyd roxy-l -methyl-ethane, diphenyl ketone, phenyl-1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl ketone, (4-morpholinobenzoyl)-1 -benzyl-1 -dimethylamino-pro- pane, 1 -(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-butan-1 -one, (4-methylthiobenzo- yl)-1 -methyl-1 -morpholino-ethane , benzil dimethyl ketal, bis(cyclopentadienyl)-bis(2,6-difluo- ro-3-pyrryl-phenyl)titanium, trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, bis(2,6-dimethoxy- benzoyl)-(2,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl)-phosphine oxide, bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-2,4-dipentyl- oxyphenyl-phosphine oxide or bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenyl-phosphine oxide. Further suitable additional photoinitiators are to be found in US 4950581, column 20, line 35 to column 21, line 35. Other examples are trihalomethyltriazine derivatives or hexaarylbisimida- zolyl compounds. Further examples for additional photoinitiators are borate compounds, as for example described in US 4772530, EP 775706, GB 2307474, GB 2307473 and GB 2304472. The borate compounds preferably are used in combination with electron acceptor compounds, such as, for example dye cations, or thioxanthone derivatives.

Further examples of additional photoinitiators are, for example, peroxide compounds, e.g. benzoyl peroxide (other suitable peroxides are described in US Patent 4 950 581, column 19, lines 17-25) or cationic photoinitiators, such as aromatic sulfonium or iodonium salts, such as those to be found in US Patent 4 950 581, column 18, line 60 to column 19, line 10, or cyclopentadienyl-arene-iron(ll) complex salts, for example (n6-isopropylbenzene)(n5-cy- clopentadienyl)-iron(ll) hexafluorophosphate.

The surface coatings may be solutions or dispersions of the surface-coating resin in an orga- nic solvent or in water, but they may also be solventless. Of special interest are surface coat- ings having a low solvent content, so-called "high solids surface coatings", and powder coat- ing compositions. The surface coatings may be clear lacquers, as used, for example, in the automobile industry as finishing lacquers for multilayer coatings. They may also comprise pigments and/or fillers, which may be inorganic or organic compounds, and metal powders for metal effect finishes.

The surface coatings may also comprise relatively small amounts of special additives custo- mary in surface-coating technology, for example flow improvers, thixotropic agents, leveling agents, antifoaming agents, wetting agents, adhesion promoters, light stabilisers, antioxi- dants, or sensitisers.

UV absorbers, such as those of the hydroxyphenyl-benzotriazole, hydroxyphenyl-benzo- phenone, oxalic acid amide or hydroxyphenyl-s-triazine type may be added to the composi- tions according to the invention as light stabilisers. Individual compounds or mixtures of those compounds can be used with or without the addition of sterically hindered amines (HALS).

Examples of such UV absorbers and light stabilisers are 1. 2-(2'-Hvdroxvphenvl)-benzotriazoles, such as 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-benzotria- zole, 2-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2-(5'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)- benzotriazole, 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-(1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl)-benzotriazole, 2-(3',5'-di- tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chloro-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphen- yl)-5-chloro-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-sec-butyl-5'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazol e, 2-(2'- hydroxy-4'-octyloxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2-(3',5'-di-tert-amyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotri- azole, 2-(3',5'-bis-(a,a-dimethylbenzyl)-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotri azole, mixture of 2-(3'-tert- butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-octyloxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)-5-chlor o-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl- 5'-[2-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-carbonylethyl]-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-5- chloro-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert- butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)-5-chloro -benzotriazole, 2(3'-tert-butyl-2'- hydroxy-5'-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2- octyloxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-5'-[2-(2-ethylhexyloxy)carbonyl- ethyl]-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2-(3'-dodecyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-benzo- triazole and 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-isooctyloxycarbonylethyl)p henyl-benzotriazole, 2,2'-methylene-bis[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-6-benzotriaz ol-2-yl-phenol]; transesterification product of 2-[3'-tert-butyl-5'-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)-2'-hydroxy-phen yli-benzotriazole with polyethylene glycol 300; [R-CH2CH2-COO(CH2)3]2- wherein R = 3'-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxy-5'- 2H-benzotriazol-2-yl-phenyl.

2. 2-Hvdroxvbenzoshenones, such as the 4-hydroxy, 4-methoxy, 4-octyloxy, 4-decyloxy, 4- dodecyloxy, 4-benzyloxy, 4,2',4'-trihydroxy or 2'-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy derivative.

3. Esters of unsubstituted or substituted benzoic acids, such as 4-tert-butyl-phenyl salicylate, phenyl salicylate, octylphenyl salicylate, dibenzoylresorcinol, bis(4-tert-butylbenzoyl)resorcin- ol, benzoylresorcinol, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid 2,4-di-tert-butyiphenyl ester, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid hexadecyl ester, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid octadecyl ester, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid 2-methyl-4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl ester.

4. Acrylates, such as a-cyano- , -diphenylacrylic acid ethyl ester or isooctyl ester, a-carbo- methoxy-cinnamic acid methyl ester, a-cyano-P-methyl-p-methoxy-cinnamic acid methyl es- ter or butyl ester, a-carbomethoxy-p-methoxy-cinnamic acid methyl ester, N-( -carbometh- oxy- -cyanovinyl)-2-methyl-indoline.

5. Stericallv hindered amines, such as bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidyl)sebacate, bis(2,2,6,6- tetramethyl-piperidyl)succinate, bis(1 ,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl)sebacate, nbutyl-3,5-di- tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-malonic acid bis(1 ,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl) ester, conden- sation product of 1-hydroxyethyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine and succinic acid, condensation product of N,N'-bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)hexamethylenediamin e and 4-tert-octylamino-2,6-dichloro-1 ,3,5-s-triazine, tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)- nitrilotriacetate, tetrakis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-1 ,2,3,4-butanetetraoate, 1,1 '-(1,2- ethanediyl)-bis(3 3,5 ,5-tetramethyl-piperazinone), 4-benzoyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4- <BR> <BR> <BR> stearyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, bis(1 ,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl)-2-n-butyl-2-(2- hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl) malonate, 3-n-octyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1 ,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]- decane-2,4-dione, bis(1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl)sebacate, bis(1-octyloxy-2,2,- 6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl)succinate, condensation product of N,N'-bis(2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-4- piperidyl)hexamethylenediamine and 4-morpholino-2,6-dichloro-1 3,5-triazine, condensation product of 2-chloro-4,6-di(4-n-butylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl) -1,3,5-triazine and 1,2- bis(3-aminopropylamino)ethane, condensation product of 2-chloro-4,6-di(4-n-butylamino- 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl)-1,3,5-triazine and 1 ,2-bis(3-aminopropylamino)ethane, 8-a- <BR> <BR> <BR> cetyl-3-dodecyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1 ,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione, 3-dodecyl-1 -(2,- 2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, 3-dodecyl-1-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-pi- peridyl)-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione.

6. Oxalic acid diamides, such as 4,4'-dioctyloxy-oxanilide, 2,2'-diethoxy-oxanilide, 2,2'-di-oc- tyloxy-5 ,5'-di-tert-butyl-oxanilide, 2,2'-didodecyloxy-5,5'-di-tert-butyl-oxanilide, 2-ethoxy-2'- ethyl-oxanilide, N, N'-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)oxalamide, 2-ethoxy-5-tert-butyl-2'-ethyloxa- nilide and a mixture thereof with 2-ethoxy-2'-ethyl-5,4'-di-tert-butyl-oxanilide, mixtures of o- and p-methoxy- and of o- and p-ethoxy-di-substituted oxanilides.

7. 2-(2-Hvdroxvphenvl)-1 ,3.5-triazines, such as 2,4,6-tris(2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-1 ,3,5- triazine, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine, 2-(2,4-di- hydroxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(2-hydroxy-4-propyloxy- phenyl)-6-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(4-meth- ylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-dodecyloxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl) -1,3,5- triazine, 2-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-butyloxy-propyloxy)phenyl]-4,6-b is(2,4-dimethyl- <BR> <BR> phenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine, 2-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-octyloxy-propyloxy)phenyl]-4,6-b is(2,4- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylphenyl)- 1 3,5-triazine, 2-[4-dodecyl-/tridecyl-oxy-(2-hydroxypropyl)oxy-2-hydroxy- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> phenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 3,5-triazine.

8. Phosphites and shosphonites, such as triphenyl phosphite, diphenyl alkyl phosphites, phe- nyl dialkyl phosphites, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, trilauryl phosphite, trioctadecyl phosphite, distearyl-pentaerythritol diphosphite, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, diisodecylpenta- erythritol diphosphite, bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite, bis(2,6-di-tert- butyl-4-methylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite, bis-isodecyloxy-pentaerythritol diphosphite, bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite, bis-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphen- yl)pentaerythritol diphosphite, tristearyl-sorbitol triphosphite, tetrakis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)- 4,4'-biphenylene diphosphonite, 6-isooctyloxy-2,4,8, 1 0-tetra-tert-butyl-1 2H-dibenzo[d,gj- 1 ,3,2-dioxaphosphocine, 6-fluoro-2,4,8, 1 0-tetra-tert-butyl-1 2-methyl-dibenzo[d,g]-1 3,2- dioxaphosphocine, bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl)methyl phosphite, bis(2,4-di-tert- butyl-6-methylphenyl)ethyl phosphite.

Such light stabilisers can also be added, for example, to an adjacent surface-coating layer from which they gradually diffuse into the layer of stoving lacquer to be protected. The adja- cent surface-coating layer may be a primer under the stoving lacquer or a finishing lacquer over the stoving lacquer.

It is also possible to add to the composition, for example, photosensitisers which shift or in- crease the spectral sensitivity so that the irradiation period can be reduced and/or other light sources can be used. Examples of photosensitisers are aromatic ketones or aromatic alde- hydes (as described, for example, in US 4017652), 3-acyl-coumarins (as described, for ex- ample, in US 4366228, EP 738928, EP 22188), keto-coumarines (as described e.g. in US 5534633, EP 538997, JP 8272095-A), styryl -coumarines (as described e.g. in EP 624580), 3-(aroylmethylene)-thiazolines, thioxanthones, condensed aromatic compounds, such as pe- rylene, aromatic amines (as described, for example, in US 4069954 or WO 96/41237) or ca- tionic and basic colourants (as described, for example, in US 4026705), for example eosine, rhodanine and erythrosine colourants, as well as dyes and pigments as described for exam- ple in JP 8320551-A, EP 747771, JP 7036179-A, EP 619520, JP 6161109-A, JP 6043641, JP 6035198-A, WO 93/15440, EP 568993, JP 5005005-A, JP 5027432-A, JP 5301910-A, JP 4014083-A, JP 4294148-A, EP 359431, EP 103294, US 4282309, EP 39025, EP 5274, EP 727713, EP 726497 or DE 2027467.

Other customary additives are - depending on the intended use - optical brighteners, fillers, pigments, colourants, wetting agents or flow improvers.

For curing thick and pigmented coatings, the addition of micro glass beads or powdered glass fibres, as described in US 5013768, is suitable.

Other examples of additional photoinitiators or additives have been given hereinbefore.

Oximesulfonates can also be used, for example, in hybrid systems. Those systems are ba- sed on formulations that are full cured by two different reaction mechanisms. Examples ther- eof are systems that comprise components that are capable of undergoing an acid-catalysed crosslinking reaction or polymerisation reaction, but that also comprise further components that crosslink by a second mechanism. Examples of the second mechanism are, for example, radical full cure, oxidative crosslinking or humidity-initiated crosslinking. The se- cond curing mechanism may be initiated purely thermally, if necessary with a suitable cata- lyst, or also by means of light using a second photoinitiator.

If the composition comprises a radically crosslinkable component, the curing process, espe- cially of compositions that are pigmented (for example with titanium dioxide), can also be as- sisted by the addition of a component that is radical-forming under thermal conditions, such as an azo compound, for example 2,2'-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), a tria- zene, a diazosulfide, a pentazadiene or a peroxy compound, such as, for example, a hydro- peroxide or peroxycarbonate, for example tert-butyl hydroperoxide, as described, for exam- ple, in EP 245639. The addition of redox initiators, such as cobalt salts, enables the curing to be assisted by oxidative crosslinking with oxygen from the air.

The surface coating can be applied by one of the methods customary in the art, for example by spraying, painting on or immersion. When suitable surface coatings are used, electrical application, for example by electroimmersion coating, is also possible. After drying, the sur- face coating film is irradiated. If necessary, the surface coating film is then fully cured by means of heat treatment.

The compounds of formulae I or II can also be used for curing mouldings made from compo- sites. A composite consists of a self-supporting matrix material, for example a glass fibre fa- bric, impregnated with the photocuring formulation.

Resist systems can be prepared by image-wise irradiation of systems comprising com- pounds of formulae I or II, followed by a developing step.

As already mentioned above, compounds of formulae I or II can be used as photosensitive acid donors in a photoresist.

The invention accordingly relates also to a photoresist based on oximesulfonates as photo- sensitive acid donors, the photoresist comprising as oximesulfonate a compound of formulae I or II.

The difference in solubility between irradiated and non-irradiated sections that occurs as a result of the acid-catalysed reaction of the resist material during or after irradiation of the re- sist may be of two types depending upon which further constituents are present in the resist.

If the compositions according to the invention comprise components that increase the solubi- lity of the composition in the developer after irradiation, the resist is positive. If, on the other hand, those components reduce the solubility of the composition after irradiation, the resist is negative.

The invention accordingly relates also to a negative photoresist and to a positive photoresist.

The oximesulfonates of formulae I or II can also be used in chemically amplified resists. A chemically amplified photoresist is understood to be a resist composition the photosensitive component of which, when irradiated, provides only that amount of acid that is required to catalyse a chemical reaction of at least one acid-sensitive component of the resist, as a re- sult of which the ultimate differences in solubility between irradiated and non-irradiated areas of the photoresist first develop.

The invention accordingly relates also to a chemically amplified photoresist.

Subject of the invention further is the use of a compound of the formula I or ii as photosensi- tive acid donor in a photoresist.

Such resists exhibit an outstanding lithographic sensitivity to radiation of different wave- length, since compounds of formulae I or II can be easily tuned over a broad range of the el- ectromagnetic spectrum. The photoresists according to the invention have excellent lithogra- phic properties, especially a high sensitivity, and homogeneous exposure-conditions over the whole resist thickness due to the fact that the optical absorption is bleached upon irradiation.

Acid-sensitive components that produce a negative resist characteristic are especially com- pounds that, when catalysed by acid (the acid formed during irradiation of the compounds of formulae I or II), are capable of undergoing a crosslinking reaction with themselves and/or with one or more further components of the composition. Compounds of that type are, for example, the known acid-curable resins, such as, for example, acrylic, polyester, alkyd, mel- amine, urea, epoxy and phenolic resins or mixtures thereof. Amino resins, phenolic resins and epoxy resins are very suitable. Acid-curable resins of that type are generally known and are described, for example, in Ullmann's Encyclopädie der technischen Chemie, 4th Edition, Vol. 15 (1978), p. 613 - 628. The crosslinker components should generally be present in a concentration of from 2 to 40, preferably from 5 to 30, percent by weight, based on the total solids content of the negative composition.

Especially preferred as acid-curable resins are amino resins, such as non-etherified or etherified melamine, urea, guanidine or biuret resins, especially methylated melamine resins or butylated melamine resins, corresponding glycolurils and urones. There are to be under- stood by resins in this context both customary technical mixtures, which generally also com- prise oligomers, and pure and high purity compounds. N-Methoxymethyl melamine and tetra- methoxymethyl glucoril and N,N'-dimethoxymethylurone are the acid-curable resins given the greatest preference.

The concentration of the compound of formula I or II in negative resists is in general from 0.1 to 30, preferably up to 20, percent by weight, likewise based on the total solids content of the compositions. From 1 to 15 percent by weight is especially preferred.

Where appropriate, the negative compositions may additionally comprise a film-forming poly- meric binder. That binder is preferably an alkali-soluble phenolic resin. Well suited for that purpose are, for example, novolaks, derived from an aldehyde, for example acetaldehyde or furfuraldehyde, but especially from formaldehyde, and a phenol, for example unsubstituted phenol, mono- or di-chlorosubstituted phenol, such as p-chlorophenol, phenol mono- or di- substituted by C1-Cgalkyl, such as o-, m- or p-cresol, the various xylenols, p-tert-butylphenol, p-nonylphenol, p-phenylphenol, resorcinol, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane or 2,2-bis(4- hydroxyphenyl)propane. Also suitable are homo- and co-polymers based on ethylenically un- saturated phenols, for example homopolymers of vinyl- and 1 -propenyl-substituted phenols, such as p-vinylphenol or p-(1-propenyl)phenol or copolymers of those phenols with one or more ethylenically unsaturated materials, for example styrenes. The amount of binder should generally be from 30 to 95 percent by weight or, preferably, from 40 to 80 percent by weight.

The invention thus includes, as a special embodiment, as already mentioned above, nega- tive, alkali-developable photoresists, comprising an oximesulfonate of formula I or II as des- cribed above, an alkali-soluble phenolic resin as binder and a component that when cataly- sed by an acid undergoes a crosslinking reaction with itself and/or with the binder.

An especially preferred form of that negative resist comprises from 1 to 15 percent by weight oximesulfonate, from 40 to 99 percent by weight of a phenolic resin as binder, for example one of those mentioned above, and from 0.5 to 30 percent by weight of a melamine resin as crosslinking agent, the percentages relating to the solids content of the composition. With novolak or especially with polyvinyl phenol as binder, a negative resist having especially good properties is obtained.

Oximesulfonates can also be used as acid generators, which can be activated photochemi- cally, for the acid-catalysed crosslinking of, for example, poly(glycidyl)methacrylates in nega- tive resist systems. Such crosslinking reactions are described, for example, by Chae et al. in Pollimo 1993, 17(3), 292.

Monomeric or polymeric compounds that are alkali-insoluble but are cleaved in the presence of acid, or are capable of being rearranged intramolecularly, in such a manner that reaction products remain that are soluble in a customary alkaline developer and/or that cause an otherwise alkali-insoluble and acid-resistant additional binder to become soluble in the deve- loper, produce a positive characteristic in photoresist compositions according to the inven- tion. Substances of that type are referred to hereinafter as solution inhibitors.

As already indicated hereinbefore, the invention therefore includes, as a further special em- bodiment, positive alkaline-developable photoresists, comprising a compound of formula I or II and at least one compound that substantially prevents the composition from dissolving in an alkaline developer, but that can be cleaved in the presence of an acid in such a manner that reaction products remain that are soluble in the developer and/or that cause an acid-re- sistant additional binder that would otherwise be virtually insoluble in the developer to dis- solve in the developer.

There may be used as solution inhibitors monomeric and polymeric organic compounds ha- ving functional groups that would be soluble per se in an alkaline medium, for example aro- matic hydroxy groups, carboxylic acid groups, secondary amino groups and keto or aldehyde groups, but that have been chemically so altered by reaction with a suitable compound that they are insoluble in aqueous alkali, the protecting groups formed in the mentioned reaction being capable of being cleaved again by acid catalysis in such a manner that the functional groups are recovered in their original form.

For the protection of hydroxy groups, carboxylic acid groups or secondary amino groups the- re are suitable, for example, dihydrofuran or 3,4-dihydropyran and the derivatives thereof, benzyl halides, alkyl halides, haloacetic acid, haloacetic acid esters, chlorocarbonic acid esters, alkylsulfonyl halides, aromatic sulfonyl halides, dialkyl dicarbonates or trialkylsilyl halides, it being possible for the reactions to form the protected derivatives to be carried out in known manner. Customary conversion into ketals and acetals is suitable for protecting keto and aldehyde groups.

Such chemically amplified positive resist systems are described, for example, in E. Reich- manis, F. M. Houlihan, O. Nalamasu, T. X. Neenan, Chem. Mater. 1991, 3, 394; or in C. G.

Willson, "Introduction to Microlithography, 2nd. Ed.; L. S. Thompson, C. G. Willson, M. J.

Bowden, Eds., Amer. Chem. Soc., Washington DC, 1994, p. 139.

In positive resists of the mentioned type a film-forming, polymeric solution inhibitor can either be the only binder in the photoresist or can be used in admixture with an acid-inert binder and, where appropriate, a monomeric solution inhibitor.

Examples of acid-inert binders are novolaks, especially those based on o-, m- or p-cresol and formaldehyde, also poly(p-hydroxystyrene), poly(p-hydroxy-a-methylstyrene) and copo- lymers of p-hydroxystyrene, p-hydroxy-a-methylstyrene and acetoxystyrene.

Examples of polymeric solution inhibitors are novolaks, especially those based on o-, m- or p-cresol and formaldehyde, poly(p-hydroxystyrene), poly(p-hydroxy-a-methylstyrene), copo- lymers of p-hydroxystyrene or p-hydroxy-a-methylstyrene and acetoxystyrene or acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and (meth)acrylic acid esters, which are reacted in known manner with dihydrofuran, 3,4-dihydropyran, benzyl halides, alkyl halides, haloacetic acid, haloacetic acid esters, chlorocarbonic acid esters, alkylsulfonyl halides, aromatic sulfonyl halides, dial- kyl dicarbonate or trialkylsilyl halides. Also suitable are polymers of p-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)- oxystyrene or p-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-oxystyrene with (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid esters and/or p-acetoxystyrene and polymers of p-hydroxystyrene and/or p-(2-tetrahydropy- ranyl)-oxystyrene with 3-hydroxybenzyl (meth)acrylates, which can, if necessary, additionally be protected by reaction with one of the compounds listed above.

Especially suitable are polymers that are - depending on the light sources used for irradiation - transparent in the wavelength range used for irradiation. Wavelengths can vary between 180 and 1500 nm. The polymers can carry both, groups that, after acid-catalysed deprotec- ting, bring about a change in solubility, and hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups that increase the solubility of the acid generator and ensure aqueous-alkaline developability. Examples of such polymers are acrylates and methacrylates prepared by co-, ter-, or quater-polymerisa- tion from the corresponding monomers like methyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, tert-bu- tyl (meth)acrylate, 3-oxocyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, tetrahydropyranyl (meth)acrylate, ada- mantyl (meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, norbornyl (meth)acrylate. The monomers can also combine two of above mentioned structures like for example (2-tetrahydropyranyl)- oxynorbonylalcohol acrylates or (2-tetrahydropyranyl)oxymethyltricyclododecanemethanol methacrylates. Examples for such monomers are given in US 5621019. The monomers may also carry organosilicon radicals in order, for example, to further increase the resistance in the case of dry etching processes, like for example trimethylsilylmethyl (meth)acrylate.

The invention accordingly also relates to a chemically amplified positive resist comprising as photosensitive acid donor a compound of formula I or II.

The invention relates also to a photoresist comprising polymers that are transparent down to the wavelength region of 180 nm.

A special embodiment of the positive resist according to the invention comprises from 75 to 99.5 percent by weight of a film-forming polymer that contains protecting groups that can be removed by acid catalysis, and from 0.5 to 25 percent by weight of oximesulfonates of for- mula I or II, the percentages being based on the solids content of the compositions. In this context, preference is given to compositions comprising from 80 to 99 percent by weight of the mentioned polymer and from 1 to 20 percent by weight of oximesulfonate.

Another embodiment is a positive resist comprising from 40 to 90 percent by weight of an acid-inert film-forming polymer as binder, from 5 to 40 percent by weight of a monomeric or polymeric compound having protecting groups removable by acid catalysis and from 0.5 to 25 percent by weight of oximesulfonates of formula I or 11, the percentages relating to the so- lids content of the compositions. Of those compositions, preference is given to those compri- sing from 50 to 85 percent by weight acid-inert binder, from 10 to 30 percent by weight mo- nomeric or polymeric solution inhibitor and from 1 to 15 percent by weight oximesulfonates.

Oximesulfonates can also be used as solubility enhancers, which can be activated by light.

In that case, the compounds are added to a film-forming material comprising substantially no components that polymerise with the oximesulfonic acid ester when heated or when irradia- ted with actinic radiation. However, the oximesulfonates reduce the speed at which the film- forming material dissolves in a suitable developer medium. That inhibiting effect can be can- celled by irradiating the mixture with actinic radiation, so that a positive image can be pro- duced. Such an application is described, for example, in EP 241423.

A further special embodiment of the invention is, finally, a positive resist comprising a com- pound of formula I or II and a binder that is virtually insoluble in an alkaline developer and that becomes soluble in the developer in the presence of the photolysis products of the com- pound of formula I or II. In this case the amount of the mentioned oximesulfonate compound is generally from 5 to 50 percent by weight, based on the solids content of the composition.

The use of the oximesulfonates according to the invention in chemically amplified systems, which operates on the principle of the removal of a protecting group from a polymer, gener- ally produces a positive resist. Positive resists are preferred to negative resists in many ap- plications, especially because of their greater resolution. There is, however, also interest in producing a negative image using the positive resist mechanism, in order to combine the ad- vantages of the high degree of resolution of the positive resist with the properties of the ne- gative resist. That can be achieved by introducing a so-called image-reversal step as des- cribed, for example, in EP 361906. For that purpose, the image-wise irradiated resist ma- terial is treated, before the developing step, with, for example, a gaseous base, the acid that has been produced image-wise being neutralised. Then, a second irradiation, over its whole area, and thermal aftertreatment are carried out and the negative image is then developed in the customary manner.

In addition to the mentioned constituents, both the negative and the positive photoresist compositions may additionally comprise one or more of the additives customarily used in photoresists in the amounts familiar to a person skilled in the art, for example flow improvers, wetting agents, adhesives, thixotropic agents, colourants, pigments, fillers, solubility ac- celerators and so on. The reaction can be accelerated by the addition of photosensitisers which shift and/or broaden the spectral sensitivity. These are especially aromatic carbonyl compounds, such as benzophenone, thioxanthone, anthraquinone and 3-acylcoumarin deri- vatives and also 3-(aroylmethylene) thiazolines, but also eosine, rhodanine and erythrosine colourants.

Other compounds that accelerate the acid formation or enhance the acid concentration may also be used in combination with the oximesulfonates of the formulae I or II according to the invention in positive or negative resists or imaging systems as well as in all coating applica- tions. Such acid amplifiers are described e.g. in Arimitsu, K. et al. J. Photopolym. Sci. Tech- nol. 1995, 8, pp 43; Kudo, K. et al. J. Photopolym. Sci. Technol. 1995, 8, pp 45; Ichimura, K. et al. Chem: Letters 1995, pp 551.

For application, the compositions must generally also comprise a solvent. Examples of suit- able solvents are ethyl acetate, 3-methoxymethyl propionate, ethyl pyruvate, 2-heptanone, diethyl glycol dimethyl ether, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, y-butyrolactone, ethyl methyl ketone, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate and especially 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate.

The solvent may also be in the form a mixture, for example of two or more of the above- mentioned solvents. The choice of solvent and the concentration depend, for example, on the nature of the composition and on the coating method.

The solution is uniformly applied to a substrate by means of known coating methods, for ex- ample by spin-coating, immersion, knife coating, curtain pouring techniques, brush applica- tion, spraying and reverse roller coating. It is also possible to apply the photosensitive layer to a temporary, flexible support and then to coat the final substrate by coating transfer (lami- nating).

The amount applied (coating thickness) and the nature of the substrate (coating substrate) are dependent on the desired field of application. The range of coating thicknesses can in principle include values from approximately 0.01 lim to more than 100 ,um.

Possible areas of use of the composition according to the invention are as follows: use as photoresists for electronics, such as etching resists, electroplating resists or solder resists, the manufacture of integrated circuits or thin film transistor-resist (TFT); the manufacture of printing plates, such as offset printing plates or screen printing stencils, use in the etching of mouldings or in stereolithography or holography techniques. The coating substrates and processing conditions vary accordingly.

The compositions according to the invention are also outstandingly suitable as coating com- positions for substrates of all types, including wood, textiles, paper, ceramics, glass, plastics, such as polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins or cellulose acetate, especially in the form of films, but especially for coating metals, such as Ni, Fe, Zn, Mg, Co or especially Cu and Al, and also Si, silicon oxides or nitrides, to which an image is to be applied by means of image-wise irradiation.

After the coating operation, the solvent is generally removed by heating, resulting in a layer of the photoresist on the substrate. The drying temperature must of course be lower than the temperature at which certain components of the resist might be thermally cured. Care must be taken in that respect especially in the case of negative photoresists. In general, drying temperatures should not exceed from 80 to 1300C.

The resist coating is then irradiated image-wise. The expression "image-wise irradiation" in- cludes irradiation in a predetermined pattern using actinic radiation, i.e. both irradiation through a mask containing a predetermined pattern, for example a transparency, and irradia- tion using a laser beam that is moved over the surface of the coated substrate, for example under the control of a computer, and thus produces an image. Another way to produce a pat- tern is by interference of two beams or images as used for example in holographic appli- cations. It is also possible to use masks made of liquid crystals that can be addressed pixel by pixel to generate digital images, as is, for example described by A. Bertsch; J.Y.

Jezequel; J.C. Andre in Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 1997 107 p 275-281 and by K. P. Nicolay in Offset Printing 1997, 6, p 34-37.

After the irradiation and, if necessary, thermal treatment, the unirradiated sites (in the case of positive resists) or the irradiated sites (in the case of negative resists) of the composition are removed in a manner known perse using a developer.

It is generally necessary to allow a certain period of time prior to the developing step in order to allow the acid-sensitive components of the resist composition to react. In order to accele- rate that reaction and hence the development of a sufficient difference in solubility between the irradiated and unirradiated sections of the resist coating in the developer, the coating is preferably heated before being developed. The heating can also be carried out or begun during the irradiation. Temperatures of from 60 to 1500C are preferably used. The period of time depends on the heating method and, if necessary, the optimum period can be deter- mined easily by a person skilled in the art by means of a few routine experiments. It is ge- nerally from a few seconds to several minutes. For example, a period of from 10 to 300 se- conds is very suitable when a hotplate is used and from 1 to 30 minutes when a convection oven is used. It is important for the latent acid donors according to the invention in the uni- rradiated sites on the resist to be stable under those processing conditions.

The coating is then developed, the portions of the coating that, after irradiation, are more so- luble in the developer being removed. If necessary, slight agitation of the workpiece, gentle brushing of the coating in the developer bath or spray developing can accelerate that pro- cess step. The aqueous-alkaline developers customary in resist technology may be used, for example, for the developing. Such developers comprise, for example, sodium or potassium hydroxide, the corresponding carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, silicates or metasilicates, but preferably metal-free bases, such as ammonia or amines, for example ethylamine, n-pro- pylamine, diethylamine, di-n-propylamine, triethylamine, methyl diethylamine, alkanolamines, for example dimethyl ethanolamine, triethanolamine, quaternary ammonium hydroxides, for example tetramethylammonium hydroxide or tetraethylammonium hydroxide. The developer solutions are generally up to 0.5N, but are usually diluted in suitable manner before use. For example solutions having a normality of approximately 0.1 are well suited. The choice of developer depends on the nature of the photocurable surface coating, especially on the na- ture of the binder used or of the resulting photolysis products. The aqueous developer solu- tions may, if necessary, also comprise relatively small amounts of wetting agents and/or or- ganic solvents. Typical organic solvents that can be added to the developer fluids are, for ex- ample, cyclohexanone, 2-ethoxyethanol, toluene, acetone, isopropanol and also mixtures of two or more of those solvents. A typical aqueous/organic developer system is based on Bu- tylcellosolveB/water.

It is known from EP 592139 that oximesulfonates can be used as acid generators, which can be activated by light in compositions that are suitable for the surface treatment and cleaning of glass, aluminium and steel surfaces. The use of those compounds in such organosilane systems results in compositions that have significantly better storage stability than those ob- tained when the free acid is used.

Oximesulfonates can also be used to produce so-called "print-out" images when the com- pound is used together with a colourant that changes colour when the pH changes, as des- cribed e.g. in Japanese Patent Application JP Hei 4 328552-A or in US 5237059. Such co- our-change systems can be used according to EP 199672 also to monitor goods that are sensitive to heat or radiation. In addition the newly claimed compounds of formula I or II ex- hibit already a colour change on their own when they are exposed to light of suitable wave- length. This color-change must not be as pronounced as in the case of using it in combina- tion with the beforementioned acid-sensitive colourants, but it is well visible.

In addition to a colour change, it is possible during the acid-catalysed deprotection of soluble pigment molecules (as described e.g. in EP 648770, EP 648817 and EP 742255) for the pig- ment crystals to be precipitated; this can be used in the production of colour filters as described e.g. in EP 654711 or print out images and indicator applications, when the colour of the latent pigment precursor differs from that of the precipitated pigment crystal.

Compositions using pH sensitive dyes or latent pigments in combination with oximesulfona- tes can be used as light indicators or simple throw away dosimeters. Especially for light, that is invisible to the human eye, like UV- or IR-light, such dosimeters are of interest.

The oximesulfonates of the present invention can also be used to shape polymers that undergo an acid induced transition into a state where they have the required properties using photolithography. For instance the oximesulfonates can be used to pattern conjugated emis- sive polymers as described in M.L. Renak; C. Bazan; D. Roitman; Advanced materials 1997, 9, 392. Such patterend emissive polymers can be used to manufacture microscalar pat- terned Light Emitting Diodes (LED) which can be used to manufacture displays and data sto- rage media. In a similar way precursors for polyimides (e.g. polyimid precursors with acid la- bile protecting groups that change solubility in the developer) can be irradiated to form pat- terned polyimide layers which can serve as protective coating, insulating layers and buffer layers in the production of microchips and printed circuit boards.

The formulations may also be used as conformal coatings, photoimagable dielectricas as they are used in sequential build up systems for printed cricuit boards, stress buffer layers and isolation layers in the manufacturing of computer chips.

It is known that conjugated polymers like, e.g. polyanilines. can be converted from semicon- ductive to conductive state by means of proton doping. The oxime-sulfonates of the present invention can also be used to imagewise irradiate compositions comprising such conjugated polymers in order to form conducting structures (exposed areas) embedded in insulating ma- terial (non exposed areas). These materials can be used as wiring and connecting parts for the production of electric and electronic devices.

Suitable for the crosslinking of compositions comprising compounds of formula I or II are ra- diation sources that emit radiation of a wavelength of approximately from 150 to 1500, for example from 180 to 1000 or preferably from 240 to 700 nanometers. Both point sources and planiform projectors (lamp carpets) are suitable. Examples are: carbon arc lamps, xenon arc lamps, medium pressure, high pressure and low pressure mercury lamps, optionally do- ped with metal halides (metal halide lamps), microwave-excited metal vapour lamps, excimer lamps, superactinic fluorescent tubes, fluorescent lamps, argon filament lamps, electronic flash lamps, photographic flood lights, electron beams and X-ray beams generated by means of synchrotrons or laser plasma. The distance between the lamp and the substrate according to the invention to be irradiated can vary, for example, from 2 cm to 150 cm, ac- cording to the intended use and the type and/or strength of the lamp. Suitable light sources are therefore especially mercury vapour lamps, especially medium and high pressure mer- cury lamps, from the radiation of which emission lines at other wavelengths can, if desired, be filtered out. That is especially the case for relatively short wavelength radiation. The dis- tance between the lamp and the workpiece can vary, for example, from 2 cm to 150 cm, ac- cording to the intended use and the type and/or strength of the lamp. It is, however, also possible to use low energy lamps (for example fluorescent tubes) that are capable of emit ting in the appropriate wavelength range. An example thereof is the Philips TL03 lamp. Ano- ther type of light soure that can be used are the light emitting diodes (LED) that emitt at dif- ferent wavelength throughout the whole spectrum either as small band emitting source or as broad band (white light) source. Also suitable are laser light sources, for example excimer la- sers, such as Kr-F lasers for irradiation at 248 nm or Ar-F lasers at 193 nm. Lasers in the vi- sible range and in the infrared range can also be used. Very especially suitable is radiation of the mercury h and g lines at wavelengths of 436 and 405 nanometers. A suitable laser- beam source is, for example, the argon-ion laser, which emits radiation at wavelengths of 454, 458, 466, 472, 478, 488 and 514 nanometers. Nd-YAG-lasers emitting light at 1064 nm and it's second and third harmonic (532 nm and 355 nm respectively) can also be used. Also suitable is, for example, a helium/cadmium laser having an emission at 442 nm or lasers that emit in the UV range. With that type of irradiation, it is not absolutely essential to use a pho- tomask in contact with the photopolymeric coating to produce a positive or negative resist; the controlled laser beam is capable of writing directly onto the coating. For that purpose the high sensitivity of the materials according to the invention is very advantageous, allowing high writing speeds at relatively low intensities. On irradiation, the oximesulfonate in the composition in the irradiated sections of the surface coating decomposes to form sulfonic acids.

In contrast to customary UV curing with high-intensity radiation, with the compounds accor- ding to the invention activation is achieved under the action of radiation.of relatively low in- tensity. Such radiation includes, for example, daylight (sunlight), and radiation sources equi- valent to daylight. Sunlight differs in spectral composition and intensity from the light of the artificial radiation sources customarily used in UV curing. The absorption characteristics of the compounds according to the invention are as well suitable for exploiting sunlight as a na- tural source of radiation for curing. Daylight-equivalent artificial light sources that can be used to activate the compounds according to the invention are to be understood as being projectors of low intensity, such as certain fluorescent lamps, for example the Philips TL05 special fluorescent lamp or the Philips TL09 special fluorescent lamp. Lamps having a high daylight content and daylight itself are especially capable of curing the surface of a surface- coating layer satisfactorily in a tack-free manner. In that case expensive curing apparatus is superfluous and the compositions can be used especially for exterior finishes. Curing with daylight or daylight-equivalent light sources is an energy-saving method and prevents emis- sions of volatile organic components in exterior applications. In contrast to the conveyor belt method, which is suitable for flat components, daylight curing can also be used for exterior finishes on static or fixed articles and structures.

The surface coating to be cured can be exposed directly to sunlight or daylight-equivalent light sources. The curing can, however, also take place behind a transparent layer (e.g. a pane of glass or a sheet of plastics).

The compounds of formulae I or II are generally added to the compositions in an amount from 0.1 to 30 % by weight, for example from 0.5 to 10 % by weight, especially from 1 to 5 °/O by weight.

Subject of the invention is a method of crosslinking compounds that can be crosslinked un- der the action of an acid, which method comprises adding a compound of formula I and/or II according to claim 1 to the above-mentioned compounds and irradiating imagewise or over the whole area with light having a wavelength of 180-1500 nm.

The invention relates also to the use of compounds of formulae I or II as photosensitive acid donors in the preparation of surface coatings, printing inks, printing plates, dental composi- tions, colour filters, resist materials or image-recording materials, or image-recording materi- als for recording holographic images, as well as to a method for the preparation of surface coatings, printing inks, printing plates, dental compositions, colour filters, resist materials and as image-recording material, or image-recording material for recording holographic images, which comprises irradiating a composition according to the invention with light having a wavelength of 180-1500 nm.

The invention further pertains to the use of a composition as described above for the prepa- ration of surface coatings, printing inks, printing plates, dental compositions, colour filters, re- sist materials and as image-recording material, or image-recording material for recording ho- lographic images.

The examples which foliow illustrate the invention in more detail. Parts and percentages, as in the remainder of the description and in the claims, are by weight unless indicated other- wise.

Example 1: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl- acetonitrile 1.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl-acetonitri le 60 g of KOH are dissolved in 300 ml of methanol and heated up to 55"C. To the solution are added 32.2 g (0.27 mol) of phenylacetonitrile followed by 30.8 g (0.25 mol) of nitrobenzene.

The reaction mixture is stirred at 55"C for 4 hrs. After cooling, 400 ml of water are added with stirring. The resulting solution is acidified by addition of 110 ml of acetic acid in 100 ml of water, leading to a yellow-orange precipitate. The mixture is then filtered, and the yellow solid is washed with a mixture of methanol and water. The crude product is dried in air, boi- led with 150 ml of benzene for 15 min., cooled, filtered and dried under vacuum. 42.6 g (77%) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl-acetonitri le are obtained in the form of a yellow solid having a melting point of 159-163"C (dec.).

1.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl- acetonitrile 10 g (45 mmol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl-acetonitri le are dissol- ved in 100 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 9.41 ml (68 mmol) of triethylamine to the solution, 3.83 ml (50 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are ad- ded dropwise, keeping the temperature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is gradually warmed to room temperature, and stirred for 1 hr. The reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of wa- ter, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid so- lution, water, and sodium chloride solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the sol- vent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 9.4 g (70 %) of (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl- acetonitrile are obtained in the form of a yellow-green crystal having a melting point of 137-139"C (dec.). 'H-NMR shows that the product is a 82:18 mixture of the E and Z isomers (two dxd signals for H-C(2 or 6) at 6.78 and 6.91 ppm.

Example 2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth oxyphenyl)-ace- tonitrile 2.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methoxyphenyl) -acetonitrile 80 g of KOH are dissolved in 400 ml of methanol and heated up to 55"C. To the solution are added 50 ml (0.37 mol) of p-methoxyphenylacetonitrile, followed by 35 ml (0.34 mol) of nitro- benzene. The reaction mixture is stirred at 55"C for 4 hrs. After cooling, 500 ml of water are added with stirring. The resulting solution is acidified by addition of 110 ml of acetic acid in 100 ml of water, leading to a precipitate. The mixture is then filtered, and the solid is washed with a mixture of methanol and water. The crude product is dried in air and recrystallized from 500 ml of ethyl acetate. 45.6 g (53%) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4- methoxyphenyl)-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of orange crystals having a melting point of 161-163"C (dec.).

2.2: (4-M ethylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2 ,5-dienylidene)-(4-methoxyphenyl)-acetonitrile 15 g (59 mmol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methoxyphenyl) -acetonitri- le are dissolved in 200 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 12.4 ml (89 mmol) of triethylamine to the solution, 5.03 ml (65 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are added dropwise, keeping the temperaturebelow 5"C. The reaction mixture is gradually warmed to room temperature, and stirred for 1 hr. The reaction mixture is poured into 300 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solu- tion, water, and sodium chloride solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the sol- vent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from ethyl acetate. 6.8 g (35 %) of (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth oxyphenyl)-acetoni- trile are obtained in the form of orange crystals having a melting point of 161-162"C (dec.).

Example 3: (4-Methylphenylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-( 4-methoxyphen- yl)-acetonitrile 10 g (40 mmol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methoxyphenyl) -acetonitri- le (prepared according to the method of. example 2.1) are dissolved in 80 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 8.3 ml (60 mmol) of triethylamine to the solution, 8.3 g (44 mmol) of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride dissolved in 20 ml of THF are added dropwise, keeping the temperature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is gradually warmed to room temperature, and stirred for 1 hr. The reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solution, and sodium chloride solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 9.4 g (58 %) of (4-methylphenylsulfonyl- oxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methoxyphenyl)-aceton itrile are obtained in the form of a brown crystal having a melting point of 129-136"C (dec.).

Example 4: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth ylphenyl)-aceto- nitrile 4.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methylphenyl)- acetonitrile 40 g of KOH are dissolved in 200 ml of methanol and heated up to 55"C. To the solution are added 25 g (0.19 mol) of 4-methylphenylacetonitrile, followed by 18 ml (0.17 mol) of nitro- benzene. The reaction mixture is stirred at 55"C for 2.5 hrs. After cooling, 400 mi of water are added with stirring. The resulting solution is acidified by addition of 110 ml of acetic acid in 100 ml of water, leading to a yellow precipitate. The mixture is then filtered, and the solid is washed with a mixture of methanol and water, and methanol. After the solid is dried in air, 29.6 g (74%) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methylphenyl)- acetonitrile are obtained in the form of a yellow powder having a melting point of 148-1510C (dec.).

4.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-meth ylphenyl)-acetonitrile 10 g (42 mmol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methylphenyl)- acetonitrile are dissolved in 80 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 8.8 ml (63 mmol) of tri- ethylamine to the solution, 3.6 ml (47 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are added drop- wise, keeping the temperature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 30 min. The reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate.

The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solution, water, and sodium chloride so- lution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 4.6 g (35 %) of (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohe- xa-2,5-dienylidene)-(4-methylphenyl)-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of yellow crystals having a melting point of 139-141 °C (dec.).

Example 5: (4-MethylsulfonylOxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-meth yiphenyl)-aceto- nitrile 5.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-methylphenyl)- acetonitrile 40 g of KOH are dissolved in 300 ml of methanol and heated up to 55°C. To the solution are added 25 g (0.19 mol) of 3-methylphenylacetonitrile followed by 18 ml (0.17 mol) of nitroben- zene. The reaction mixture is stirred at 55"C for 4 hrs. After cooling, 400 ml of water are ad- ded with stirring. The resulting solution is acidified by addition of 110 ml of acetic acid in 100 ml of water, leading to a yellow precipitate. The mixture is then filtered, and the solid is wa- shed with a mixture of methanol and water, and methanol. After the solid is dried in air, 26.9 g (67%) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-methylphenyl)- acetonitrile are obtained in the form of a yellow powder having a melting point of 146-149"C (dec.).

5.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-meth ylphenyl)-acetonitrile 25 g (0.11 mol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-methylphenyl)- acetonitrile are dissolved in 150 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 22 ml (0.16 mol) of tri- ethylamine to the solution, 9.0 ml (0.12 mol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are added drop- wise, keeping the temperature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 30 min. The reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate.

The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solution, water, and sodium chloride so- lution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 16.8 g (51 %) of (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclo- hexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3-methylphenyl)-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of yellow crys- tals having a melting point of 159-1 61 CC (dec.).

Example 6: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-di methylphenyl)- acetonitrile 6.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-dimethylphen yl)-acetonitrile 46 g (0.30 mol) of 3,4-dimethylphenylacetonitrile (containing 30 % of 2,3- dimethylphenylace- tonitrile) are dissolved in 200 ml of DMSO. To the solution are added 22 g (0.45 mol) of NaCN, and the mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture is poured into 400 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with water, and sodium chloride solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the sol- vent is distilled off, and 42.5 g of liquid is obtained. 20 g of this liquid is added to 200 ml of methanol containing 30 g of KOH, followed by adding 12.9 ml (0.13mol) of nitrobenzene.

The mixture is stirred at 55"C for 8 hrs. After cooling, 400 ml of water are added with stirring.

The resulting solution is acidified by addition of 110 ml of acetic acid in 100 ml of water, lead- ing to a precipitate. The mixture is then filtered, and the solid is washed with a mixture of me- thanol and water, and methanol. The crude product is dried in air, boiled with 300 ml of tolu- ene for 1 hr, cooled, filtered and dried under vacuum. 12.5 g of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa- 2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of a yellow powder having a melting point of 175-177"C (dec.). 1H-NMR and '3C-NMR measurements indicate, that the obtained compound does not contain any 2,3-dimethyl isomer.

6.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-di methylphenyl)-acetonitrile 10 g (40 mmol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-dimethylphen yl)-acetoni- trile are dissolved in 160 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 8.4 ml (60 mmol) of triethylamine to the solution, 3.4 ml (44 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are added dropwise, keeping the temperature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 30 min. The reaction mixture is poured into 150 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl ace- tate. The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solution, water, and sodium chlo- ride solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the re- sidue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 9.3 g (71 %) of (4-methylsulfonyloxyimino- cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of yellow crystals having a melting point of 131-133"C (dec.).

Example 7: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-thiophe n-2-yl-acetonitrile 7.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-thiophen-2-yl-ace tonitrile 9.5 g of KOH are dissolved in 50 ml of methanol. To the solution are added 5 g (41 mmol) of thiophene-2-acetonitrile followed by 4.2 ml (41 mmol) of nitrobenzene. After the reaction mix- ture is- stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs, 200 ml of water are added with stirring. The re- sulting solution is acidified by addition of 30 ml of acetic acid in 25 ml of water, leading to a dark orange precipitate. The mixture is then filtered, and the solid is washed with a mixture of methanol and water, and methanol. The crude product is dried in air and recrystallized from toluene. 4.7 g (50%) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-thiophen-2-yl-ace - tonitrile are obtained in the form of a dark orange powder having a melting point of 151- 155"C (dec.).

7.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-thiophe n-2-yl-acetonitrile 4.5 g (20 mmol) of (4-Hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-thiophen-2-yi-ace tonitrile are dissolved in 50 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 4.2 ml (30 mmol) of trie- thylamine to the solution, 1.7 ml (22 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are added dropwise, keeping the temperature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 30 min.

The reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solution, water, and sodium chloride solution.

The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 1.8 g (30 %) of (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5- dienylidene)-thiophen-2-yl-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of orange crystals having a melting point of 123-125"C (dec.).

Example 8: (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acet onitrile 8.1: (5-Hydroxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile 14 g of KOH are dissolved in 50 ml of methanol. To the solution are added 7.1 ml (62 mmol) of phenylacetonitrile followed by 10 g (62 mmol) of 2-nitrothiophene dissolved in 30 ml of methanol. After the reaction mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 10 min, 200 ml of water are added with stirring. The resulting solution is acidified by addition of 55 ml of acetic acid in 50 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with sodium chlo- ride solution, and dried over MgSO4. After the solvent is distilled off, the residue is purified by means of column chromatography on silica gel with ethyl acetate-hexane (1:3), and recrys- tallization from toluene. 5.3 g (38%) of (5-Hydroxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-ace- tonitrile are obtained in the form of orange crystals having a melting point of 165"C (dec.).

8.2: (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acet onitrile 5 g (22 mmol) of (5-Hydroxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile are dissolved in 50 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 4.6 ml (33 mmol) of triethylamine to the solution, 1.9 ml (24 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride are added dropwise, keeping the tem- perature below 5"C. The reaction mixture is stirred while cooling in an ice bath for 30 min.

The reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with hydrochloric acid solution and sodium chloride solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 5.2 g (77 %) of (5-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-yli- dene)-phenyl-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of greenish brown crystals having a mel- ting point of 160-1 62°C (dec.).

Example 9: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene) -phenyl-aceto- nitrile 9.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-3-methyl-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenylac etonitrile 39.6 g of KOH (0.6 mol, assay 85%) are dissolved in 200 ml of methanol and heated up to 55"C. To the solution are added 23.4 g (0.20 mol) of phenylacetonitrile, followed by 25g (0.18 mol) of o-nitrotoluene. The dark red reaction mixture is stirred at 55"C for 4 hrs. After cooling, the mixture is poured into 500 ml of water, and acidified by addition of 60 ml of ace- tic acid. The resulting orange precipitate is filtered, washed with water, methanol:water 1:1 (v/v), and dried under vacuum. The crude product (16.8 g, 40%) has a melting point of 161- 164"C (dec) (Lit: 161"C dec; J. Org. Chem. 26, 4270, 1961) and is used in the next step without further purification.

9.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene) -phenyl-acetonitrile 16.7 g (70 mmol) of crude (4-Hydroxyimino-3-methyl-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenylac e- tonitrile are dissolved in 100 ml of THF and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 6.0 ml (77 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride, 14.8 ml (106 mmol) of triethylamine are added dropwise to the solution, keeping the temperature below 10°C. The reaction mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 30 min., poured into 250 ml of iced water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with 0.2 N hydrochloric acid, water, and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by recrystallization from toluene. 11.5 g (52 %) of (3-Methyl-4-methylsulfo- nyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyl-acetonitrile are obtained in the form of bright yellow crystals having a melting point of 136-138"C (dec.).

Elemental analysis (C16H14N203S): calc.: C 61.13% H 4.49% N 8.91% found: C 61.18% H 4.49% N 8.80% Example 10: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene )-phenyl-ace- tonitrile 10.1: (4-Hydroxyimino-3-methOxy-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyla cetonitrile 21.0 g (0.18 mol) of phenylacetonitrile and 25 g (0.16 mol) of o-nitroanisole are added at 25"C to a solution of 35.6 g KOH (0.54 mol, assay 85%) in 180 ml of methanol and the dark red reaction mixture is stirred at 55"C for 6 hrs. After cooling, the mixture is diluted with 500 ml of water, and acidified by addition of 60 ml of acetic acid with cooling. The resulting oran- ge precipitate is filtered, washed with water, methanol:water 1:1 (v/v), and dried at 80"C un- der vacuum. The crude product (30.8 g, 75%) has a melting point of 180-182"C (dec) (Lit: 187"C dec; J. Org. Chem. 26, 4270,1961) and is used in the next step without further purifi- cation. The 1H-NMR spectrum indicates the presence of two isomers in nearly 1:1 ratio.

10.2: (4-Methylsulfonyloxyimino-3-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene )-phenyl-acetonitrile 15.1 g (60 mmol) of crude (4-Hydroxyimino-3-methoxy-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)-phenyla - cetonitrile are dissolved in 100 ml of anhydrous dimethylformamide (DMF) and cooled in an ice bath. After adding 5.1 ml (66 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride, 12.5 ml (90 mmol) of tri- ethylamine are added dropwise to the solution, keeping the temperature below 10°C. The re- action mixture is stirred in the ice bath for 2 hrs, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) ana- lysis indicates the presence of a small amount of starting material. The reaction mixture is diluted in 250 ml of iced water, and the product, which precipitates in part, is extracted in e- thylacetate. The organic phase is washed with 0.2 N hydrochloric acid, water, and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, the solvent is distilled off, and the residue is purified by flash chromatography on SiO2, using CH2C12 as eluent. 8.0 g (40 %) of (3-Methoxy-4-methylsulfonyloxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienyliden e)-phenyl-aceto- nitrile are obtained in the form of an orange solid darkening at 145"C and melting at 165- 169"C (dec.).

Elemental analysis (C16H14N204S): calc.: C 58.17% H 4.27% N 8.48% found: C 58.55% H 4.37% N 8.28% Examples 11-53: The compounds of examples 11 to 53 are obtained according to the method described in example 1.2, using the corresponding educts. The structures and physical data are listed in table 1.

Table 1 Ex. Structure Purification Description/melting point N050 11 2 3 recrystallization from yellow solid CN toluene m.p. 50 - 58 °C brown solid 12 9 P so-S02CH3 recrystallization from m.p. 165-172 "C toluene (dec) CN cH3o Nvo orange solid 13 CH,O II ISO,CH, recrystallization from m.p. 166 - 170 "C CN toluene (dec) chromatography yellow solid 14 001sQcH3 (hexane:dichloro- m.p. 159 - 161 0C cN methane = 1:1) (dec) 15 f/N,o~SO,CH, yellow solid 15 /+cw recrystallization from m.p. 120 - 122 "C CH30 l toluene (dec) ON Ex. Structure Purification Description/melting point Cle yellow solidsolid 3 yellow solid 16 wcw recrystallization from m.p. 138 - 140 "C CN toluene (dec) yellow solid yellow from m.p. 149-155 0C 17 vcXl 2 3 from from m.p. 149 - 155 "C tJ con methanol (dec) ON . > > Ou 18 WcH so2cH3 chromatography yellow solid 0H300'N (dichloromethane) m.p. 54-61 0C ;No$I:No2 19 =N Ic"<)NO-s) recrystallization from yellow solid cN cF3 toluene m.p. 186 - 188 0C dec F ,9-# recrystallization from II - 20 o%* \ recrystallization from yellow solid FF CN 0 toluene m.p.127-1290C dec [2(CI < No 21 Wcw so2cH3 recrystallization from beige solid ON mixture of ethyl acetate m.p. 120 - 150 "C and hexane 22 i) chromatography yellow solid N OH (hexane:dichloro- m.p. 138- 140 "C methane = 3:7) ON 23 Cg Q v/N'o-so,cH, recrystallization from yellow solid uc mixture of toluene and m.p. 194-196 "C ON 2-propanol (dec) CM -SO,CH, 24 a uC4NH chromatography dark purple solid (hexane:ethyl acetate m.p. 136 - 140 °C CN f' g = 7:3) (dec) w Ex. Structure Purification Description/melting point 25 HO ,C,Nsos recrystallization from yellow solid H3CoCN toluene m.p. 148-150"C (dec) 26 ps " O-8020H3 recrystallization from yellow solid CH3 ON 2-propanol m.p. 115-116"C N-O-S02CH, 27 iOIs/ recrystallization from ochre solid <, 2-propanol m.p. 168-171 oC CI CN (dec) N-O-SO,C,H, 28 sA recrystallization from orange-brown solid 28 )1 2-propanol m.p. 121-125"C ON (dec) N-O-S02C4H9 29 (t so recrystallization from 2- ochre solid propanol m.p. 107-110°C ON (dec) N-O-SO2OH3 30 CI recrystallization from yellow solid 2-propanol m.p. 124-126"C ON . -o 31 J NO2 recrystallization from yellow solid - toluene m.p. 171-1720C ON CF3 (dec) N-O-SO2CH3 32 C z$C4Hg chromatography ochre solid c, (dichloromethane) m.p. 64-69"C ON gF F 33 N--o-s- F recrystallization from brown solid 1N5 0F FMF 2-propanol (dec) (dec) ON Ex. Structure Purification Description/melting ~. point CH3o2s-o N-O-SO2CH3 recrystallization from yellow-orange solid 34 l gcX mixture of 2-propanol m.p. 172-175"C I and 1,2-dichloroethane (dec) CH,O N-O-SO,CH, 3 NO-SO2CH3 35 e so recrystallization from 2- ochre solid propanol m.p. 145-148"C CN (dec) 36 CH3 N-O-0S111cH3 "" recrystallization from yellow solid 2-propanol m.p. 135-138"C ON (dec) N-O-5Q04H9 37 > - recrystallization from ochre solid O mixture of ethyl acetate m.p. 93-95°C ON and ethyl hexane 16 33 CH3 N-O-SO2C.6H33 38 H sA recrystallization from yellow solid 2-propanol m.p. 107-108"C ON CHN-OSOC H CH3 N-O-SO2C8H,7 39 C t recrystallization from 2- yellow-green solid propanol m.p. 89-91"C ON o 40 CY N-O--areclystallization from yellow solid uc-» ° 3 2-propanol m.p. 124-126°C 0 ON OCH3 41 N-NO-SO2CH3 recrystallization from yellow solid mixture of ethanol and m.p. 159-162"C GN toluene (dec) H3Cx N-o-SO2CH3 42 C ' chromatography yellow solid (hexane:ethyl m.p. 156-160"C ON acetate = 7:3) Ex. Structure Purification Description/melting Ex. Structure Purification Description/melting point clclSO,CH, 43 ----CI--,- recrystallization from brownish solid ON toluene m.p. 159-166"C dec II I 44 C clf>NvO-ll-cH chromatography sticky resin o CH3 (petroleum ether/ethyl ON acetate 3:1) ci CI)\I OH 249 45 Wcw chromatography viscous, brown oil ON (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate 3:1) 46 C CloN>o-so2c8Hr7 chromatography brown, sticky solid CN (petroleum ether/ethyl (currently acetate 3:1) solidifying) Clf\\fc'o 1OH3 47 ClaC ,eX-Nvo 1 --II recrystallization from brownish solid II 9 o ethyl acetate m.p. 136-1410C I o (dec) dec O12H ci ci N0 I 48 uc^JS chromatography brown-redish oil 9 I 0 (petroleum ether/ethyl CN acetate 9:1) 49 9:1) 0O12H25 49 C on l°l, .2 2s chromatography brown oil it (petroleum ether/ethyl ON acetate 9:1) 50' 0\, f/N,o~slO,CH, repetitive recrystallization from yellowish I toluene m.p. 150-152"C cN 51 CH, 511---- recrystallization from yellow solid H0\/cH3 2-propanol m.p. 155-162°C CN E x. Structure Purification Description/melting point ~ CH3Sue] ' O-SO2CH3 52 Wcw recrystallization from orange solid 2-propanol m.p. 158-163"C HsC CH3 53 Cm3 9 recrystallization from yellow-brown solid 13SC=O=NOSC O 2-propanol m.p. 134-136"C CN O 1 Same structure as example 1, but consisting of a pure stereoisomer ('H-NMR: dxd of H-C(2 or 6) at 6.78 ppm. Tentatively assigned to the E-isomer.

(dec) is decomposition.

Example 54: Preparation of a negative resist A resist solution is prepared by dissolving 65 parts of polyvinylphenol (Mw = 4.000, Maruzen Chemicals Co. Ltd.), 30 parts of hexa(methoxymethyl)melamin (Cymels 303, Cyanamid) and 5 parts of the latent acid to be tested in 7.5 g of 1 -methoxy-2-propylacetat, which contains 1000 ppm of an anti-foaming agent (FC430). This solution is spin coated onto the polished side of a silicon wafer (diameter 4 inch), which has been pretreated with hexamethyldisila- zan, by spinning at 5000 rpm for 30 seconds. The solvent is removed by drying the coated wafer for 60 seconds at 11 00C on a hot plate (pre-bake), which results in films of 1 Wm thickness. Irradiation of the samples is performed with a Canon maskaligner (Canon PLA 501) using interference filters to select the wavelengths at 365, 405 and 436 nm. For each wavelength a fixed dose is used, but due to the lower output of the lamp and absorp- tion of the latent acid, longer irradiation times respectively higher doses are used at longer wavelength in order to cause sufficient crosslinking. A special mask containing a greyscale step wedge (transmissions ranging from 0 to 50 %) and resolution patterns are used. After exposure the wafers are heated for 60 seconds to 110"C to perform the post exposure bake (PEB) during which the liberated acid catalyses the crosslinking reaction in the irradiated ar- eas. Developing is performed by dipping the samples into a 2.38 % solution of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for 60 seconds. The thickness of the film before exposure as well as after exposure in the fields that were exposed to different doses is measured with an Axiotron from Zeiss which uses white light interference. The thickness measurements are used to estimate the one-to-one energy El :1 which is the dose that is required to retain the same film thickness as before developing. The film thickness of the cured samples is also measured by means of an Alpha Step profilometer. The step with the highest number that is cured is used to calculate the minimum dose E0 required to have crosslinking. The smaller the required dose the more reactive is the latent acid.

The results are listed in Table 2 and show, that the latent acids have high sensitivity in a negative resist at all wavelengths.

Table 2 Latent acid - Reactivity at Reactivity at Reactivity at compound of 365 nm (mJ) 405 nm (mJ) 436 nm (mJ) example 1 E0 20 EO 45 E0 430 E1:1 30 El:1 60 El:1 800 2 EO 90 EO 50 EO 50 E1:1 270 E1:1 150 E1:1 150 4 E0 25 E0 25 E0 80 E1:1 40 E1:1 40 E1:1 160 5 EO 50 E0 100 E0 800 E1:1 90 E1:1 200 E1:1 >1000 6 EO 35 E0 30 E0 60 E1:1 70 E1:1 60 E1:1 120 7 E0 70 EO 45 EO 35 E1:1 210 E1:1 90 E1:1 70 8 EO 30 EO 9 EO 9 E1:1 50 E1:1 15 E1:1 15 9 EO 25 E0 35 EO 350 E1:1 40 E1:1 70 E1:1 700 10 EO 50 E0 50 EO 70 E1:1 100 E1:1 100 E1:1 140 11 EO 25 E0 100 E0 >1000 El:1 50 El:1 200 E1:1 >1000 12 EO 100 EO 70 EO 100 E1:1 200 E1:1 140 E1:1 250 14 E0 30 EO 30 EO 250 E1:1 60 E1:1 60 E1:1 500 15 EO 30 E0 50 E0 150 E1:1 60 E1:1 100 E1:1 300 16 EO 50 EO 55 E0 500 E1:1 100 E1:1 110 E1:1 1000 17 EO 70 EO 100 EO 140 E1:1 140 E1:1 200 E1:1 280 Latent acid Reactivity at Reactivity at Reactivity at compound of 365 nm (mJ) 405 nm (mJ) 436 nm (mJ) example 20 E0 25 E0 25 E0 350 E1:1 50 E1:1 50 E1:1 700 21 E0 30 E0 300 E0 >1000 E1:1 60 E1:1 600 E1:1 >1000 22 EO 30 E0 30 E0 100 E1:1 60 E1:1 60 E1:1 200 23 EO 600 EO >1000 EO >1000 E1:1 >1000 E1:1 >1000 E1:1 >1000 25 EO 20 EO 10 E0 8 E1:1 40 E1:1 20 E1:1 16 26 EO 20 E0 9 EO 10 E1:1 40 E1:1 20 E1:1 18 27 E0 22 EO 11 E0 15 E1:1 45 E1:1 22 E1:1 30 28 E0 20 EO 11 E0 9 E1:1 40 E1:1 22 E1:1 18 29 EO 30 E0 11 E0 11 E1:1 60 E1:1 22 E1:1 22 30 EO 20 EO 9 EO 15 E1:1 40 E1:1 18 E1:1 30 33 E0 20 EO 10 E0 20 E1:1 40 E1:1 20 E1:1 40 36 E0 30 not measured EO 13 E1:1 50 E1:1 23 37 E0 18 not measured EO 9 E1:1 24 E1:1 12 38 EO 18 not measured EO 11 E1:1 23 E1:1 15 39 E0 19 not measured EO 5 E1:1 23 E1:1 11 40 E0 26 not measured EO 10 E1:1 50 E1:1 15 41 E0 30 EO 22 EO 35 E1:1 60 E1:1 44 E1:1 70 50 EO 13 EO 37 EO 230 E1:1 16 E1:1 47 E1:1 310