JP7489222B2 - Carboxylic acid salt, carboxylic acid generator, resist composition and method for producing resist pattern - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a carboxylate, a carboxylic acid generator, a resist composition, and a method for producing a resist pattern.

特許文献２には、下記式で表されるカルボン酸塩をカルボン酸発生剤として含有するレジスト組成物が記載されている。

特許文献３には、下記式で表される塩が記載されている。

特許文献４には、下記式で表される塩を酸発生剤として含有するレジスト組成物が記載されている。

特許文献５には、下記式で表される塩が記載されている。

Patent Document 1 describes a resist composition that contains a carboxylate represented by the following formula as a carboxylic acid generator.

Patent Document 2 describes a resist composition that contains a carboxylate represented by the following formula as a carboxylic acid generator.

Patent Document 3 describes a salt represented by the following formula:

Patent Document 4 describes a resist composition that contains a salt represented by the following formula as an acid generator.

Patent Document 5 describes a salt represented by the following formula:

JP 2011-39502 A JP 2014-88367 A JP 2018-030830 A JP 2016-199537 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-118651

The present invention provides a carboxylate that forms a resist pattern with better line edge roughness (LER) than a resist pattern formed with a resist composition containing the above carboxylate.

［式（Ｉ）中、
Ｒ^１及びＲ^２は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子、フッ素原子又はフッ素原子を有する炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
Ｒ^３は、フッ素原子又はフッ素原子を有する炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
Ｒ^４及びＲ^５は、それぞれ独立に、ハロゲン原子、炭素数１～１０のフッ化アルキル基又は炭素数１～１２のアルキル基を表し、該フッ化アルキル基及び該アルキル基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－で置き換わっていてもよい。
ｍ４は、０～４のいずれかの整数を表し、ｍ４が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^４は互いに同一であっても異なってもよい。
ｍ５は、０～５のいずれかの整数を表し、ｍ５が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^５は互いに同一であっても異なってもよい。
Ｘ^０は、置換基を有してもよい炭素数１～７２の炭化水素基を表し、該炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－、－ＣＯ－又は－ＳＯ_２－に置き換わっていてもよい。］
［２］Ｘ^０が、置換基を有してもよい炭素数１～７２の脂肪族炭化水素基（但し、該脂肪族炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－、－ＣＯ－又は－ＳＯ_２－に置き換わっていてもよい。）である［１］記載のカルボン酸塩。
［３］Ｘ^０が、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基を有してもよい脂環式炭化水素基（該脂環式炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。）又は脂環式炭化水素基と鎖式炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基（該脂環式炭化水素基及び該鎖式炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該脂環式炭化水素基及び該鎖式炭化水素基は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基を有してもよい。）である［１］又は［２］のいずれかに記載のカルボン酸塩。
［４］［１］～［３］のいずれかに記載のカルボン酸塩を含有するカルボン酸発生剤。
［５］［４］記載のカルボン酸発生剤、該カルボン酸発生剤以外の酸発生剤及び酸不安定基を有する樹脂を含有するレジスト組成物。
［６］酸不安定基を有する樹脂が、式（ａ１－１）で表される構造単位及び式（ａ１－２）で表される構造単位からなる群より選ばれる少なくとも１種を含む樹脂である［５］記載のレジスト組成物。

［式（ａ１－１）及び式（ａ１－２）中、
Ｌ^ａ１及びＬ^ａ２は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－又は＊－Ｏ－（ＣＨ_２）_ｋ１－ＣＯ－Ｏ－を表し、ｋ１は１～７のいずれかの整数を表し、＊は－ＣＯ－との結合位を表す。
Ｒ^ａ４及びＲ^ａ５は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ^ａ６及びＲ^ａ７は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～８のアルキル基、炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基又はこれらを組合せた基を表す。
ｍ１は、０～１４のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｎ１は、０～１０のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｎ１’は、０～３のいずれかの整数を表す。］
［７］酸不安定基を有する樹脂が、さらに式（ａ２－Ａ）で表される構造単位を含む［５］又は［６］記載のレジスト組成物。

［式（ａ２－Ａ）中、
Ｒ^a50は、水素原子、ハロゲン原子又はハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
Ｒ^a51は、ハロゲン原子、ヒドロキシ基、炭素数１～６のアルキル基、炭素数１～６のアルコキシ基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニル基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニルオキシ基、アクリロイルオキシ基又はメタクリロイルオキシ基を表す。
Ａ^a50は、単結合又は^＊－Ｘ^a51－（Ａ^a52－Ｘ^a52）_nｂ－を表し、＊は－Ｒ^a50が結合する炭素原子との結合位を表す。
Ａ^a52は、炭素数１～６のアルカンジイル基を表す。
Ｘ^a51及びＸ^a52は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－、－ＣＯ－Ｏ－又は－Ｏ－ＣＯ－を表す。
ｎｂは、０又は１を表す。
ｍｂは０～４のいずれかの整数を表す。ｍｂが２以上のいずれかの整数である場合、複数のＲ^a51は互いに同一であっても異なってもよい。］
［８］（１）［５］～［７］のいずれかに記載のレジスト組成物を基板上に塗布する工程、
（２）塗布後の組成物を乾燥させて組成物層を形成する工程、
（３）組成物層に露光する工程、
（４）露光後の組成物層を加熱する工程、及び
（５）加熱後の組成物層を現像する工程、を含むレジストパターンの製造方法。 The present invention includes the following inventions.
[1] A carboxylate represented by formula (I).

[In formula (I),
R ¹ and R ² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a fluorine atom.
^R3 represents a fluorine atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a fluorine atom.
^R4 and ^R5 each independently represent a halogen atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and the _-CH2- contained in the fluorinated alkyl group and the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-.
m4 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and when m4 is 2 or greater, multiple R ^4s may be the same or different.
m5 represents an integer of 0 to 5, and when m5 is 2 or greater, the multiple R ^5s may be the same or different.
X ⁰ represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 72 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ --.]
[2] The carboxylate according to [1], wherein X ⁰ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 72 carbon atoms which may have a substituent (provided that —CH ₂ — contained in the aliphatic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —).
[3] The carboxylate according to either [1] or [2], wherein X ⁰ is an alicyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) or a group combining an alicyclic hydrocarbon group with a chain hydrocarbon group (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the chain hydrocarbon group may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group).
[4] A carboxylic acid generator comprising the carboxylate according to any one of [1] to [3].
[5] A resist composition comprising the carboxylic acid generator according to [4], an acid generator other than the carboxylic acid generator, and a resin having an acid labile group.
[6] The resist composition according to [5], wherein the resin having an acid labile group is a resin containing at least one selected from the group consisting of a structural unit represented by formula (a1-1) and a structural unit represented by formula (a1-2):

[In formula (a1-1) and formula (a1-2),
L ^a1 and L ^a2 each independently represent --O-- or *-O--(CH ₂ ) _k1 -CO--O--, where k1 represents an integer of 1 to 7, and * represents the bonding position with --CO--.
R ^a4 and R ^a5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a6 and R ^a7 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof.
m1 represents an integer of 0 to 14.
n1 represents an integer of 0 to 10.
n1′ represents an integer of 0 to 3.
[7] The resist composition according to [5] or [6], wherein the resin having an acid labile group further contains a structural unit represented by formula (a2-A):

[In formula (a2-A),
R ^a50 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
R ^a51 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group.
A ^a50 represents a single bond or ^* -X ^a51 -(A ^a52 -X ^a52 ) _nb -, where * represents the bonding position with the carbon atom to which -R ^a50 is bonded.
A ^a52 represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
X ^a51 and X ^a52 each independently represent —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—.
nb represents 0 or 1.
mb represents an integer of 0 to 4. When mb is an integer of 2 or more, multiple R ^a51 may be the same or different.
[8] (1) A step of applying the resist composition according to any one of [5] to [7] onto a substrate;
(2) A step of drying the applied composition to form a composition layer;
(3) exposing the composition layer to light;
(4) a step of heating the composition layer after exposure; and (5) a step of developing the composition layer after heating.

By using a resist composition that uses the carboxylate of the present invention, it is possible to produce a resist pattern with good line edge roughness (LER).

In this specification, "(meth)acrylic monomer" means at least one selected from the group consisting of monomers having the structure "CH ₂ ═CH-CO-" and monomers having the structure "CH ₂ ═C(CH ₃ )-CO-". Similarly, "(meth)acrylate" and "(meth)acrylic acid" mean "at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylate and methacrylate" and "at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid", respectively. When a structural unit having "CH ₂ ═C(CH ₃ )-CO-" or "CH ₂ ═CH-CO-" is exemplified, a structural unit having both groups is also exemplified. In addition, in the groups described in this specification, those that can have both a linear structure and a branched structure may be either of them. "Combined group" means a group in which two or more of the exemplified groups are bonded, and the valence of these groups may be appropriately changed depending on the bond form. "Derived from" or "derived from" refers to a polymerizable C=C bond contained in the molecule that is polymerized to a -C-C- group. When stereoisomers exist, all stereoisomers are included.
In this specification, the term "solids content of a resist composition" refers to the sum of the components excluding the solvent (E), which will be described later, from the total amount of the resist composition.

［式中、全ての符号は、それぞれ前記と同じ意味を表す。］ [Salt represented by formula (I)]
The present invention relates to a salt represented by formula (I) (hereinafter, may be referred to as "carboxylate (I)").
In the carboxylate (I), the negatively charged side is sometimes referred to as the "anion (I)" and the positively charged side is sometimes referred to as the "cation (I)".

[In the formula, all symbols have the same meaning as defined above.]

Examples of the alkyl group having a fluorine atom for R ¹ , R ² , and R ³ include a trifluoromethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl group, a 1-trifluoromethyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, and a perfluorohexyl group.
R ¹ is preferably a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom.
^R2 is preferably a fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group.
^R3 is preferably a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
-C(R ¹ )(R ² )(R ³ ) is preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a 1-trifluoromethyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group.
In the benzene ring, --O--CO--C(R ¹ )(R ² )(R ³ ) may be in the o-position, m-position or p-position relative to the bonding position of the iodine atom, but the p-position is preferred.

Examples of the halogen atom for ^R4 and ^R5 include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
Examples of the fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms for ^R4 and ^R5 include fluorinated alkyl groups such as a trifluoromethyl group, a difluoromethyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl group, and a perfluorohexyl group. The number of carbon atoms in the fluorinated alkyl group is preferably 1 to 6, and more preferably 1 to 4.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms for ^R4 and ^R5 include alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, an octyl group, and a nonyl group. The number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is preferably 1 to 9, more preferably 1 to 6, and even more preferably 1 to 4.

When --CH ₂ -- contained in the fluorinated alkyl group and alkyl group represented by R ⁴ and R ⁵ is replaced with --O-- or --CO--, the number of carbon atoms before replacement is regarded as the total number of carbon atoms in the fluorinated alkyl group and alkyl group.
Examples of the group in which -CH ₂ - in the alkyl group represented by R ⁴ and R ⁵ is replaced with -O- or -CO- include a hydroxy group (a group in which -CH ₂ - in a methyl group is replaced with -O-), a carboxy group (a group in which -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - in an ethyl group is replaced with -O-CO-), an alkoxy group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms (a group in which -CH ₂ - in an alkyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms is replaced with -O-), an alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 11 carbon atoms (a group in which -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - in an alkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms is replaced with -O-CO-), an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms (a group in which -CH ₂ - in an alkyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms is replaced with -CO-), and an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 11 carbon atoms (a group in which -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - in an alkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms is replaced with -CO-). - is replaced by -CO-O-.
Examples of groups in which -CH ₂ - contained in the fluorinated alkyl group represented by R ⁴ and R ⁵ is replaced with -O- or -CO- include fluorinated alkoxy groups having 1 to 9 carbon atoms (groups in which -CH ₂ - contained in a fluorinated alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms is replaced with -O-), fluorinated alkoxycarbonyl groups having 2 to 9 carbon atoms (groups in which -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - contained in a fluorinated alkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms is replaced with -O-CO-), fluorinated alkylcarbonyl groups having 2 to 10 carbon atoms (groups in which -CH ₂ - contained in a fluorinated alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms is replaced with -CO-), and fluorinated alkylcarbonyloxy groups having 2 to 9 carbon atoms (groups in which -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - contained in a fluorinated alkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms is replaced with -CO-O-).
Examples of the alkoxy group include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, a pentyloxy group, a hexyloxy group, a heptyloxy group, an octyloxy group, a nonyloxy group, a decyloxy group, and an undecyloxy group.
Examples of the alkoxycarbonyl group include a methoxycarbonyl group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, a propoxycarbonyl group, and a butoxycarbonyl group.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyl group include an acetyl group, a propionyl group, and a butyryl group.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyloxy group include a methylcarbonyloxy group, an ethylcarbonyloxy group, a propylcarbonyloxy group, and a butylcarbonyloxy group.
The fluorinated alkoxy group, fluorinated alkoxycarbonyl group, fluorinated alkylcarbonyl group and fluorinated alkylcarbonyloxy group can be obtained by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms of the above-exemplified groups with fluorine atoms.
Incidentally, R ⁵ may be the same group as —O—CO—C(R ¹ )(R ² )(R ³ ), or may be a different group.

m4 and m5 each independently represent preferably 0, 1, 2 or 3, more preferably 0, 1 or 2, and further preferably 0 or 1.
^R4 and ^R5 are each preferably independently a halogen atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (the _-CH2- contained in the fluorinated alkyl group and the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-), and more preferably a fluorine atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (the _-CH2- contained in the fluorinated alkyl group and the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-).
The bonding positions of ^R4 and ^R5 may be any of o-position, m-position, and p-position with respect to the bonding position of the iodine atom. In particular, it is preferable that ^R5 is bonded to the same position as --O--CO--C( ^R1 )( ^R2 )( ^R3 ) with respect to the bonding position of the iodine atom.

Examples of the cation (I) include the following cations:

In formula (I), examples of the hydrocarbon group represented by ^X0 include aliphatic hydrocarbon groups (chain hydrocarbon groups such as alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, and alkynyl groups, and alicyclic hydrocarbon groups), aromatic hydrocarbon groups, and groups combining these, etc. _-CH2- contained in the aliphatic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- .
Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, an octyl group, a nonyl group, etc. The number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is preferably 1 to 12, more preferably 1 to 9, still more preferably 1 to 6, and even more preferably 1 to 4.
Examples of the alkenyl group include ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, isobutenyl, tert-butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, octynyl, isooctynyl, and nonenyl groups.
Examples of the alkynyl group include an ethynyl group, a propynyl group, an isopropynyl group, a butynyl group, an isobutynyl group, a tert-butynyl group, a pentynyl group, a hexynyl group, an octynyl group, and a nonynyl group.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be any of monocyclic, polycyclic and spirocyclic, and may be any of saturated and unsaturated. Examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group include monocyclic cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl and cyclododecyl, and polycyclic cycloalkyl groups such as norbornyl and adamantyl.

芳香族炭化水素基としては、フェニル基、ナフチル基、ビフェニル基、アントリル基、フェナントリル基、ビナフチル基等のアリール基等が挙げられる。芳香族炭化水素基の炭素数は、好ましくは６～３６であり、より好ましくは６～２４であり、さらに好ましくは６～１８であり、より一層好ましくは６～１４であり、さらに一層好ましくは６～１０である。
組み合わせた基の場合、上述の基において価数の異なる基（アルカンジイル基、アルカントリイル基、アルカンテトライル基、シクロアルカンジイル基、シクロアルカントリイル基、シクロアルカンテトライル基等）が含まれていてもよい。 Specific examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the group in which --CH ₂ -- contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group is replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ -- include the following groups.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group represented by ^X0 is preferably a group represented by formula (Y1) to (Y41) (* represents a bonding position), more preferably a group represented by any one of formulas (Y1) to (Y20), (Y26), (Y27), (Y30), (Y31), (Y39) to (Y41), and even more preferably a group represented by formula (Y3), (Y4), (Y9), (Y11), (Y14), (Y15), (Y16), (Y20), (Y26), (Y27), (Y30), (Y31), (Y39) or (Y40). The number of carbon atoms in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group is preferably 3 to 18, more preferably 3 to 16, and even more preferably 3 to 12.

Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a biphenyl group, an anthryl group, a phenanthryl group, a binaphthyl group, etc. The number of carbon atoms in the aromatic hydrocarbon group is preferably 6 to 36, more preferably 6 to 24, still more preferably 6 to 18, still more preferably 6 to 14, and still more preferably 6 to 10.
In the case of a combination of groups, the above groups may contain groups having different valences (such as an alkanediyl group, an alkanetriyl group, an alkanetetrayl group, a cycloalkanediyl group, a cycloalkanetriyl group, or a cycloalkanetetrayl group).

The combined groups are:
a group combining an alicyclic hydrocarbon group with a chain hydrocarbon group ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- );
It represents a group combining a chain hydrocarbon group with an aromatic hydrocarbon group (-CH ₂ - contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -), and a group combining an alicyclic hydrocarbon group with an aromatic hydrocarbon group (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -).
In addition, in the combination, two or more types of each of the alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, the chain hydrocarbon groups and the aromatic hydrocarbon groups may be combined.

Specifically, the combined groups are:
alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, such as an adamantylmethylene group or a cyclohexylmethylene group; (alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -chain hydrocarbon group-* (-CH ₂ - contained in the chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -);
chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-* such as methyladamantyl group and dimethyladamantyl group, (chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-* (-CH ₂ - contained in the chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -),
a chain hydrocarbon group such as a tolyl group or a xylyl group - an aromatic hydrocarbon group -* ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ),
chain hydrocarbon group such as methylcyclohexylmethylene group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, (chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, (chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -chain hydrocarbon group-* ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ),
an aromatic hydrocarbon group such as a benzyl group - a chain hydrocarbon group -* ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- );
A chain hydrocarbon group such as a tolylmethyl group--aromatic hydrocarbon group--a chain hydrocarbon group--* (-CH ₂ - contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -)
chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-* such as methyladamantanemethyleneadamantyl group and di(methyladamantanemethylene)adamantyl group, (chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-*, (chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-*, (chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-* ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ),
alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, (alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, (alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, (alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-*, (alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -chain hydrocarbon group-* ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ),
open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-*, (open chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-*, (open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-*, (open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group)2-open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-*, (open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-*, (open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-open chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ -open chain hydrocarbon group-* ( _-CH2- contained in the open chain hydrocarbon group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ),
Here, * indicates the bonding position with the carbon atom of the carbonyl group.

When --CH ₂ -- contained in the hydrocarbon group represented by X ⁰ is replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ --, the number of carbon atoms before the replacement is defined as the total number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon group. In addition, when a substituent is bonded to the hydrocarbon group represented by X ⁰ , the number of carbon atoms before the replacement is defined as the total number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon group.

炭素数６～１０の芳香族炭化水素基としては、フェニル基、ナフチル基等のアリール基が挙げられる。
組み合わせた基としては、ヒドロキシ基と炭素数１～１２のアルキル基とを組み合わせた基、炭素数１～１２のアルキル基と炭素数６～１０の芳香族炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基、炭素数３～１２の脂環式炭化水素基と炭素数６～１０の芳香族炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基等が挙げられる。
ヒドロキシ基と炭素数１～１２のアルキル基とを組み合わせた基としては、ヒドロキシメチル基、ヒドロキシエチル基等の炭素数１～１２のヒドロキシアルキル基等が挙げられる。
炭素数１～１２のアルキル基と炭素数６～１０の芳香族炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基としては、ベンジル基等の炭素数７～２２のアラルキル基、トリル基、キシリル基等の炭素数７～２２のアルキルアリール基が挙げられる。
炭素数３～１２の脂環式炭化水素基と炭素数６～１０の芳香族炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基としては、シクロヘキシルフェニル基等が挙げられる。 The hydrocarbon group represented by X ⁰ may have one or more substituents.
Examples of the substituent include a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of these.
Examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, an octyl group, and a nonyl group.
Examples of the alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, a pentyloxy group, a hexyloxy group, an octyloxy group, a 2-ethylhexyloxy group, a nonyloxy group, a decyloxy group, an undecyloxy group, and a dodecyloxy group.
The alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, the alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, and the alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms represent groups in which a carbonyl group or a carbonyloxy group is bonded to the above-mentioned alkyl group or alkoxy group.
Examples of the alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms include a methoxycarbonyl group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, and a butoxycarbonyl group. Examples of the alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms include an acetyl group, a propionyl group, and a butyryl group. Examples of the alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms include an acetyloxy group, a propionyloxy group, and a butyryloxy group.
Examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms include the groups shown below, in which ** represents the bonding position with ^X0 .

Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms include aryl groups such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl group.
Examples of the combined group include a group in which a hydroxy group is combined with an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a group in which an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms is combined with an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and a group in which an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms is combined with an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.
Examples of the group combining a hydroxy group with an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms include hydroxyalkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a hydroxymethyl group and a hydroxyethyl group.
Examples of the group formed by combining an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms with an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms include aralkyl groups having 7 to 22 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to 22 carbon atoms, such as a tolyl group and a xylyl group.
Examples of groups formed by combining an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms with an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms include a cyclohexylphenyl group.

The hydrocarbon group represented by ^X0 is preferably an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 72 carbon atoms which may have a substituent ( _-CH2- contained in the aliphatic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ), an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 36 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or a group represented by formula (aa):
More preferred are alicyclic hydrocarbon groups which may have a hydroxy group or a fluorine atom (wherein —CH ₂ — contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —), groups which combine an alicyclic hydrocarbon group with a chain hydrocarbon group (wherein —CH ₂ — contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —, and where —CH ₂ — contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O— or —CO—, and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the chain hydrocarbon group may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group), aromatic hydrocarbon groups which may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, or a group represented by formula (aa):

More preferred are *-alicyclic hydrocarbon groups (wherein —CH ₂ — contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —, and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may have a hydroxy group or a fluorine atom. * represents the bonding position with a carbon atom of —COO— ⁾ , *-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-alkyl group (wherein —CH ₂ — contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —, and the —CH ₂ — contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by —O— or —CO—, and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the alkyl group may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group. * represents the bonding position with a carbon atom of ^—COO— ), aromatic hydrocarbon groups which may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, or groups represented by formula (aa),
and more preferably, the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group is a *-polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group (wherein —CH ₂ — contained in the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —, and the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group may have a hydroxy group or a fluorine atom. * represents the bonding position with a carbon atom ^of —COO—), a *-polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group-alkyl group (wherein —CH ₂ — contained in the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO— or —SO ₂ —, and the —CH ₂ — contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by —O— or —CO—, and the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the alkyl group may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group. * represents the bonding position with a carbon atom of ^—COO— ), an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, or a group represented by formula (aa),

［式（ａａ）中、
Ｘ^a及びＸ^bは、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－又は－Ｓ－を表す。
Ｘ^１は、置換基を有してもよい炭素数１～２４の炭化水素基を表し、該炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－、－ＣＯ－又は－ＳＯ_２－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ｘ^２は、置換基を有してもよい炭素数１～４８の炭化水素基を表し、該炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－、－ＣＯ－又は－ＳＯ_２－に置き換わっていてもよい。
＊は、カルボニル基の炭素原子との結合位を表す。］ Particularly preferred are an adamantanone group, a hydroxyadamantyl group, a group combining an adamantyl group with an alkyl group (wherein the --CH ₂ -- contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--), a group represented by formula (Y30F), a phenyl group having a hydroxy group, or a group represented by formula (aa).
In the above groups, the number of carbon atoms in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group is preferably 3 to 18, more preferably 3 to 16, and even more preferably 3 to 12. The number of carbon atoms in the chain hydrocarbon group is preferably 1 to 12, more preferably 1 to 9, even more preferably 1 to 6, and even more preferably 1 to 4. The number of carbon atoms in the aromatic hydrocarbon group is preferably 6 to 36, more preferably 6 to 24, even more preferably 6 to 18, still more preferably 6 to 14, and even more preferably 6 to 10.

[In formula (aa),
X ^a and X ^b each independently represent —O— or —S—.
X ¹ represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ --.
^X2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 48 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ --.
* indicates the bonding position with the carbon atom of the carbonyl group.

X ^a and X ^b are preferably the same atom, and more preferably both are oxygen atoms.

The hydrocarbon groups represented by ^X1 and ^X2 include aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, aromatic hydrocarbon groups, and groups in which two or more of these are combined, etc. In addition, _-CH2- contained in these hydrocarbon groups may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- .

The aliphatic hydrocarbon group for ^X1 includes a chain hydrocarbon group such as an alkanetriyl group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, or a combination thereof.
Specific examples of the alkanetriyl group include a methine group, an ethanetriyl group, a propanetriyl group, a butanetriyl group, a pentanetriyl group, a hexanetriyl group, a heptanetriyl group, an octanetriyl group, a nonanetriyl group, a decanetriyl group, an undecanetriyl group, and a dodecanetriyl group.

The alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be either monocyclic or polycyclic.
Examples of the monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a cyclobutanetriyl group, a cyclopentanetriyl group, a cyclohexanetriyl group, and a cyclooctanetriyl group.
Examples of the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a norbornanetriyl group, a norbornanetriyl group, and an adamantanetriyl group.
Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include a benzenetriyl group, a naphthalenetriyl group, and an anthracenetriyl group.
In the case of a combination of groups, the above groups may contain groups having different valences (such as an alkyl group, an alkanediyl group, an alkanetetrayl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkanediyl group, or a cycloalkanetetrayl group).

The hydrocarbon group represented by ^X1 has 1 to 24 carbon atoms and may further have one or more substituents. Examples of the substituents include a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of these.
Examples of the halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alicyclic hydrocarbon group, aromatic hydrocarbon group, and combinations thereof include the same groups as described above.

［式（ｗ１－１）～式（ｗ１－１１）中、
環は、ヒドロキシ基、ハロゲン原子、シアノ基、炭素数１～１２のアルキル基、炭素数１～１２のアルコキシ基、炭素数２～１３のアルコキシカルボニル基、炭素数２～１３のアルキルカルボニル基、炭素数２～１３のアルキルカルボニルオキシ基、炭素数３～１２の脂環式炭化水素基、炭素数６～１０の芳香族炭化水素基又はこれらを組み合わせた基を有していてもよい。
＊は結合位を表す。式（ｗ１－９）～式（ｗ１－１１）においては、３つの結合位は任意の位置とすることができる。］ The hydrocarbon group represented by ^X1 is preferably an alkanetriyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, more preferably an alkanetriyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a group represented by formula (w1-1) to formula (w1-11), and even more preferably an alkanetriyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a polycyclic hydrocarbon group such as a group represented by formula (w1-1) or a group represented by formula (w1-3), or a monocyclic hydrocarbon group such as a group represented by formula (w1-2) or a group represented by formula (w1-6).

[In formula (w1-1) to formula (w1-11),
The ring may have a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of these.
* represents a bonding position. In formulae (w1-9) to (w1-11), the three bonding positions may be at any positions.]

The number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon group represented by ^X2 is preferably 2 to 48, more preferably 4 to 48, even more preferably 6 to 44, still more preferably 8 to 40, and even more preferably 10 to 38. This hydrocarbon group may have a substituent. Furthermore, -CH ₂ - contained in this hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -.
Here, the number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon group means the number of carbon atoms in an unsubstituted hydrocarbon group that has no substituents.

Examples of the substituent that the hydrocarbon group for ^X2 may have include a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 13 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of these.
Examples of the halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alicyclic hydrocarbon group, aromatic hydrocarbon group, and combinations thereof include the same groups as those mentioned above.
The hydrocarbon group having 1 to 48 carbon atoms represented by ^X2 may have one or more substituents.

Examples of the hydrocarbon group for ^X2 include linear or branched chain hydrocarbon groups (e.g., alkanediyl groups, etc.), monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, and aromatic hydrocarbon groups, and may be a combination of two or more of these groups.
Specific examples of such alkyl groups include linear alkanediyl groups such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a pentane-1,5-diyl group, a hexane-1,6-diyl group, a heptane-1,7-diyl group, and an octane-1,8-diyl group;
branched alkanediyl groups such as ethane-1,1-diyl group, propane-1,1-diyl group, propane-1,2-diyl group, propane-2,2-diyl group, pentane-2,4-diyl group, 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, pentane-1,4-diyl group, and 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group;
monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups such as monocyclic cycloalkanediyl groups, such as cyclobutane-1,3-diyl group, cyclopentane-1,3-diyl group, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group, and cyclooctane-1,5-diyl group;
polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups such as polycyclic cycloalkanediyl groups, such as norbornane-1,4-diyl group, norbornane-2,5-diyl group, adamantane-1,5-diyl group, and adamantane-2,6-diyl group;
Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon groups include a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, a biphenylene group, an anthrylene group, a phenanthrylene group, and a binaphthylene group.
In the case of a combination of groups, the above groups may contain groups having different valences (such as an alkyl group, an alkanetriyl group, an alkanetetrayl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkanetriyl group, or a cycloalkanetetrayl group).
Examples of the combined group include a group in which a chain hydrocarbon group and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group are combined, a group in which a chain hydrocarbon group and an aromatic hydrocarbon group are combined, and a group in which an alicyclic hydrocarbon group and an aromatic hydrocarbon group are combined. Specific examples include a group in which one or more alicyclic hydrocarbon groups are bonded to a chain hydrocarbon group (e.g., -chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group, -chain hydrocarbon group-(alicyclic hydrocarbon group) ₂ , etc.), a group in which one or more chain hydrocarbon groups are bonded to an alicyclic hydrocarbon group (e.g., -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group, -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-(chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ , etc.), a group in which one or more alicyclic hydrocarbon groups and chain hydrocarbon groups are bonded to a chain hydrocarbon group (e.g., -chain hydrocarbon group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group, -chain hydrocarbon group-(alicyclic hydrocarbon group-chain hydrocarbon group) ₂ , etc.).

The hydrocarbon group for ^X2 is
a chain hydrocarbon group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the chain hydrocarbon group may have a substituent), or
It is preferably a group (which may have a substituent) consisting of a combination of a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -),
a chain hydrocarbon group having 4 to 18 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the chain hydrocarbon group may have a substituent), or
More preferably, it is a group (which may have a substituent) that combines a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) with an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or _-SO2- ),
a chain hydrocarbon group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the chain hydrocarbon group may have a substituent), or
More preferably, it is a group (which may have a substituent) that combines a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) with an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 14 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -).

Specifically, examples of the hydrocarbon group for ^X2 include
an alkanediyl group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the alkanediyl group may have a substituent);
a group (which may have a substituent) consisting of an alkanediyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -), or a group (which may have a substituent) consisting of an alkanediyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-), an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms and an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-),
an alkanediyl group having 4 to 18 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the alkanediyl group may have a substituent);
a group (which may have a substituent) consisting of an alkanediyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -), or a group (which may have a substituent) consisting of an alkanediyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-), an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms and an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-),
an alkanediyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms ( _-CH2- contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the alkanediyl group may have a substituent);
It is further preferred that the group is an alkanediyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) and an adamantanediyl group (-CH ₂ - contained in the adamantanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-), which may have a substituent; or an alkanediyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-), an adamantanediyl group and an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-), which may have a substituent.

［式中、
Ｒ^1ｘ、Ｒ^2ｘ、Ｒ^3ｘ、Ｒ^4ｘ、Ｒ^5ｘ及びＲ^6ｘは、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～６のアルキル基、炭素数５～１２の脂環式炭化水素基又はこれらの２種以上の基を組み合わせた基を表し、該アルキル基及び該脂環式炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－、－ＣＯ－又は－ＳＯ_２－に置き換わっていてもよく、該アルキル基及び該脂環式炭化水素基は、置換基を有していてもよい。
＊は、Ｘ^a及びＸ^bとの結合位を表す。］
組み合わせた基は、上述したアルキル基と脂環式炭化水素基とを１つずつ組み合わせたものでも、いずれかを２以上又は双方を２以上組み合わせた基でもよい。この場合、組み合わせた基の炭素数は３９以下であり、３７以下が好ましい。 Specifically, X ² is preferably a group represented by formula (X ² -1), a group represented by formula (X ² -2), a group represented by formula (X ² -3) or a group represented by formula (X ² -4).

[Wherein,
R ^1x , R ^2x , R ^3x , R ^4x , R ^5x and R ^6x each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, or a group consisting of a combination of two or more of these groups, and the -CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -, and the alkyl group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may have a substituent.
* represents the bonding position with ^Xa and ^Xb .
The combined group may be a combination of one each of the above-mentioned alkyl groups and alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, or a combination of two or more of either or both of them. In this case, the number of carbon atoms in the combined group is 39 or less, and preferably 37 or less.

Among them, R ^1x , R ^2x , R ^3x , R ^4x , R ^5x and R ^6x are preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the alkyl group may have a substituent), an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO ₂ -, and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may have a substituent), or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms (-CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -SO _{2 -)} . -) (which may have a substituent), and more preferably a methoxy group, an adamantyl group (the -CH ₂ - contained in the adamantyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the adamantyl group may have a substituent), or a group combining an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (the -CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) and an adamantyl group (which may have a substituent).

Examples of the carboxylate anion in the carboxylate salt represented by formula (I) include the carboxylate anions described below.

Specific examples of the carboxylate (I) include salts of any combination of the above-mentioned cations and anions. Specific examples of the carboxylate (I) are shown in the table below.
In the following table, each symbol represents the symbol attached to the structure representing the above-mentioned anion or cation. For example, the carboxylate (I-1) is a salt consisting of the anion represented by formula (I-a-1) and the cation represented by formula (I-c-1), and is the salt shown below.

Among these, the following carboxylates (I) are preferred: carboxylate (I-1) to carboxylate (I-5), carboxylate (I-55) to carboxylate (I-59), carboxylate (I-109) to carboxylate (I-113), carboxylate (I-163) to carboxylate (I-167), carboxylate (I-217) to carboxylate (I-221), carboxylate (I-271) to carboxylate (I-275), carboxylate (I-325) to carboxylate (I-329), carboxylate (I-379) to carboxylate (I-383), and carboxylate (I-433) to carboxylate (I-437).

［式中、全ての符号は、それぞれ前記と同じ意味を表す。
Ｘは、塩素原子、臭素原子又はヨウ素原子を表す。
Ｒ^A、Ｒ^B及びＲ^Cは、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～１２の炭化水素基を表すが、又は、Ｒ^A、Ｒ^B及びＲ^Cが一緒になって芳香環を形成してもよい。Ｒ^Dは、水素原子又は炭素数１～１２の炭化水素基を表す。］
この反応における溶剤としては、クロロホルム、アセトニトリル、イオン交換水等が挙げられる。
反応温度は通常０℃～８０℃であり、反応時間は通常０．５時間～２４時間である。 <Method for producing carboxylate (I)>
The carboxylate (I) can be produced by reacting a salt represented by the formula (Ia) with a salt represented by the formula (Ib) in a solvent in the presence of a base.

[In the formula, all symbols have the same meaning as defined above.
X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom.
R ^A , R ^B and R ^C each independently represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or R ^A , R ^B and R ^C may combine together to form an aromatic ring. R ^D represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.]
Examples of the solvent used in this reaction include chloroform, acetonitrile, and ion-exchanged water.
The reaction temperature is usually 0° C. to 80° C., and the reaction time is usually 0.5 hours to 24 hours.

The salt represented by formula (I-b) can be synthesized with reference to the methods described in JP-A-2011-39502 and JP-A-2014-88367, and examples thereof include salts represented by the following formula (I-b).

［式中、全ての符号は、それぞれ前記と同じ意味を表す。］
触媒としては、ペルオキシ一硫酸カリウム（オキソン（登録商標））、硫酸、ｐ－トルエンスルホン酸等が挙げられる。
溶剤としては、クロロホルム、モノクロロベンゼン、アセトニトリル等が挙げられる。
反応温度は、通常０℃～８０℃であり、反応時間は、通常０．５～２４時間である。 The salt represented by formula (I-a) can be produced by reacting a compound represented by formula (I-c) with a compound represented by formula (I-d) in a solvent in the presence of a catalyst.

[In the formula, all symbols have the same meaning as defined above.]
Examples of the catalyst include potassium peroxymonosulfate (Oxone®), sulfuric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like.
Examples of the solvent include chloroform, monochlorobenzene, and acetonitrile.
The reaction temperature is usually 0° C. to 80° C., and the reaction time is usually 0.5 to 24 hours.

Examples of the compound represented by formula (I-c) include compounds represented by the following formula, which are readily available on the market and can be easily produced by known production methods.

Examples of the compound represented by formula (Id) include compounds represented by the following formula, and are readily available on the market.

［式中、全ての符号は、それぞれ前記と同じ意味を表す。］
溶剤としては、酢酸、無水酢酸、クロロホルム、モノクロロベンゼン、アセトニトリル等が挙げられる。
反応温度は、通常０℃～８０℃であり、反応時間は、通常０．５～２４時間である。 The salt represented by the following formula (I-a1) can be produced by reacting a compound represented by formula (I-e) with potassium iodate in a solvent in the presence of sulfuric acid, and then mixing the resulting mixture with sodium bromide.

[In the formula, all symbols have the same meaning as defined above.]
Examples of the solvent include acetic acid, acetic anhydride, chloroform, monochlorobenzene, and acetonitrile.
The reaction temperature is usually 0° C. to 80° C., and the reaction time is usually 0.5 to 24 hours.

Examples of the compound represented by formula (I-e) include compounds represented by the following formulas, which are readily available on the market and can be easily produced by known production methods.

[Acid Generator]
The acid generator of the present invention is an acid generator containing a carboxylate (I). The carboxylate (I) of the present invention can act as an acid generator in a resist composition. When the carboxylate (I) is used as an acid generator in a resist composition, the acid generator may contain only one type of carboxylate (I) or two or more types of carboxylate (I).
As described below, the acid generator of the present invention may further contain an acid generator other than the carboxylate (I) that is known in the resist field (hereinafter, may be referred to as "acid generator (B)") and/or a carboxylic acid generator other than the carboxylate (I) that is known in the resist field. The acid generator (B) and the like may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.
When the acid generator of the present invention contains an acid generator (B) or the like, the content ratio of the carboxylate (I) to the acid generator (B) (mass ratio; carboxylate (I):acid generator (B), etc.) is usually 1:99 to 100:0, preferably 1:99 to 99:1, more preferably 2:98 to 98:2, and even more preferably 5:95 to 95:5.

[Resist Composition]
The resist composition contains a carboxylic acid generator containing the carboxylate (I) of the present invention, an acid generator (B) other than the carboxylate (I), and a resin having an acid labile group (hereinafter may be referred to as "resin (A)"). The "acid labile group" here means a group that has a leaving group and that is eliminated by contact with an acid to form a hydrophilic group (e.g., a hydroxy group or a carboxy group).
It is preferable that the resist composition further contains a quencher (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “quencher (C)”) and/or a solvent (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “solvent (E)”).

<Acid Generator (B)>
The acid generator (B) may be either nonionic or ionic. Examples of nonionic acid generators include sulfonate esters (e.g., 2-nitrobenzyl ester, aromatic sulfonate, oxime sulfonate, N-sulfonyloxyimide, sulfonyloxyketone, diazonaphthoquinone 4-sulfonate), sulfones (e.g., disulfone, ketosulfone, sulfonyldiazomethane), and the like. Examples of ionic acid generators include onium salts containing onium cations (e.g., diazonium salts, phosphonium salts, sulfonium salts, iodonium salts). Examples of the anions of the onium salts include sulfonate anion, sulfonylimide anion, sulfonylmethide anion, and the like.

As the acid generator (B), compounds that generate acid when exposed to radiation, such as those described in JP-A-63-26653, JP-A-55-164824, JP-A-62-69263, JP-A-63-146038, JP-A-63-163452, JP-A-62-153853, JP-A-63-146029, U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,778, U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,137, German Patent No. 3914407, and European Patent No. 126,712, can be used. Compounds produced by known methods may also be used. Two or more types of acid generators (B) may be used in combination.

［式（Ｂ１）中、
Ｑ^ｂ１及びＱ^ｂ２は、それぞれ独立に、フッ素原子又は炭素数１～６のペルフルオロアルキル基を表す。
Ｌ^ｂ１は、炭素数１～２４の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基で置換されていてもよい。
Ｙは、置換基を有していてもよいメチル基又は置換基を有していてもよい炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基を表し、該脂環式炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ（Ｏ）_２－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ｚ１^＋は、有機カチオンを表す。］ The acid generator (B) is preferably a fluorine-containing acid generator, and more preferably a salt represented by formula (B1) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "acid generator (B1)").

[In formula (B1),
Q ^b1 and Q ^b2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
L ^b1 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, in which -CH ₂ - may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and in which a hydrogen atom may be replaced by a fluorine atom or a hydroxyl group.
Y represents an optionally substituted methyl group or an optionally substituted alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and one -CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S(O) ₂ - or -CO-.
Z1 ⁺ represents an organic cation.

Examples of the perfluoroalkyl group represented by Q ^b1 and Q ^b2 include a trifluoromethyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a perfluoroisopropyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a perfluorosec-butyl group, a perfluorotert-butyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, and a perfluorohexyl group.
It is preferable that Q ^b1 and Q ^b2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group, and it is more preferable that both represent a fluorine atom.

Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group for L ^b1 include a linear alkanediyl group, a branched alkanediyl group, and a monocyclic or polycyclic divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, and may be a group formed by combining two or more of these groups.
Specific examples of such straight-chain alkanediyl groups include methylene, ethylene, propane-1,3-diyl, butane-1,4-diyl, pentane-1,5-diyl, hexane-1,6-diyl, heptane-1,7-diyl, octane-1,8-diyl, nonane-1,9-diyl, decane-1,10-diyl, undecane-1,11-diyl, dodecane-1,12-diyl, tridecane-1,13-diyl, tetradecane-1,14-diyl, pentadecane-1,15-diyl, hexadecane-1,16-diyl, and heptadecane-1,17-diyl groups;
branched alkanediyl groups such as ethane-1,1-diyl group, propane-1,1-diyl group, propane-1,2-diyl group, propane-2,2-diyl group, pentane-2,4-diyl group, 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, pentane-1,4-diyl group, and 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group;
monocyclic divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups such as cycloalkanediyl groups, such as cyclobutane-1,3-diyl group, cyclopentane-1,3-diyl group, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group, and cyclooctane-1,5-diyl group;
Examples of the polycyclic divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups include norbornane-1,4-diyl group, norbornane-2,5-diyl group, adamantane-1,5-diyl group, and adamantane-2,6-diyl group.

Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by L ^b1 in which -CH ₂ - is replaced by -O- or -CO- include groups represented by any of formulas (b1-1) to (b1-3). In the groups represented by formulas (b1-1) to (b1-3) and specific examples thereof represented by formulas (b1-4) to (b1-11), * and ** represent bonding positions, and * represents bonding position with -Y.

［式（ｂ１－１）中、
Ｌ^ｂ２は、単結合又は炭素数１～２２の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子に置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ^ｂ３は、単結合又は炭素数１～２２の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよく、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ２とＬ^ｂ３との炭素数合計は、２２以下である。
式（ｂ１－２）中、
Ｌ^ｂ４は、単結合又は炭素数１～２２の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子に置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ^ｂ５は、単結合又は炭素数１～２２の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよく、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ４とＬ^ｂ５との炭素数合計は、２２以下である。
式（ｂ１－３）中、
Ｌ^ｂ６は、単結合又は炭素数１～２３の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ^ｂ７は、単結合又は炭素数１～２３の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよく、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ６とＬ^ｂ７との炭素数合計は、２３以下である。］

[In formula (b1-1),
L ^b2 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b3 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, and -CH ₂ - contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with -O- or -CO-.
However, the total number of carbon atoms in L ^b2 and L ^b3 is 22 or less.
In formula (b1-2),
L ^b4 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b5 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, and -CH ₂ - contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with -O- or -CO-.
However, the total number of carbon atoms in L ^b4 and L ^b5 is 22 or less.
In formula (b1-3),
L ^b6 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 23 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group.
L ^b7 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 23 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, and -CH ₂ - contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with -O- or -CO-.
However, the total number of carbon atoms in L ^b6 and L ^b7 is 23 or less.

In the groups represented by formulae (b1-1) to (b1-3), when --CH ₂ -- contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group is replaced with --O-- or --CO--, the number of carbon atoms before replacement is regarded as the number of carbon atoms of the saturated hydrocarbon group.
Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group include the same divalent saturated hydrocarbon groups as those represented by L ^b1 .

L ^b2 is preferably a single bond.
L ^b3 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
L ^b4 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b5 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^b6 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b7 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, in which a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, and -CH ₂ - contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with -O- or -CO-.

The divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by L ^b1 in which --CH ₂ -- is replaced by --O-- or --CO-- is preferably a group represented by formula (b1-1) or formula (b1-3).

［式（ｂ１－４）中、
Ｌ^ｂ８は、単結合又は炭素数１～２２の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
式（ｂ１－５）中、
Ｌ^ｂ９は、炭素数１～２０の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ｌ^ｂ１０は、単結合又は炭素数１～１９の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ９及びＬ^ｂ１０の合計炭素数は２０以下である。
式（ｂ１－６）中、
Ｌ^ｂ１１は、炭素数１～２１の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^ｂ１２は、単結合又は炭素数１～２０の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ１１及びＬ^ｂ１２の合計炭素数は２１以下である。
式（ｂ１－７）中、
Ｌ^ｂ１３は、炭素数１～１９の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^ｂ１４は、単結合又は炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ｌ^ｂ１５は、単結合又は炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ１３～Ｌ^ｂ１５の合計炭素数は１９以下である。
式（ｂ１－８）中、
Ｌ^ｂ１６は、炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ｌ^ｂ１７は、炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^ｂ１８は、単結合又は炭素数１～１７の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又はヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^ｂ１６～Ｌ^ｂ１８の合計炭素数は１９以下である。］ Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-1) include groups represented by formulas (b1-4) to (b1-8).

[In formula (b1-4),
L ^b8 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group.
In formula (b1-5),
L ^b9 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--.
L ^b10 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms in L ^b9 and L ^b10 is 20 or less.
In formula (b1-6),
L ^b11 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 21 carbon atoms.
L ^b12 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms in L ^b11 and L ^b12 is 21 or less.
In formula (b1-7),
L ^b13 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms.
L ^b14 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--.
L ^b15 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxyl group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^b13 to L ^b15 is 19 or less.
In formula (b1-8),
L ^b16 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--.
L ^b17 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.
L ^b18 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^b16 to L ^b18 is 19 or less.]

L ^b8 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
L ^b9 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^b10 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, and more preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^b11 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^b12 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^b13 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
L ^b14 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
L ^b15 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and more preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^b16 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
L ^b17 is preferably a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
L ^b18 is preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms, and more preferably a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

［式（ｂ１－９）中、
Ｌ^b19は、単結合又は炭素数１～２３の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子に置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ^b20は、単結合又は炭素数１～２３の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子、ヒドロキシ基又はアルキルカルボニルオキシ基に置換されていてもよい。該アルキルカルボニルオキシ基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該アルキルカルボニルオキシ基に含まれる水素原子は、ヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^b19及びＬ^b20の合計炭素数は２３以下である。
式（ｂ１－１０）中、
Ｌ^b21は、単結合又は炭素数１～２１の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子に置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ^b22は、単結合又は炭素数１～２１の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^b23は、単結合又は炭素数１～２１の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子、ヒドロキシ基又はアルキルカルボニルオキシ基に置換されていてもよい。該アルキルカルボニルオキシ基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該アルキルカルボニルオキシ基に含まれる水素原子は、ヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^b21、Ｌ^b22及びＬ^b23の合計炭素数は２１以下である。
式（ｂ１－１１）中、
Ｌ^b24は、単結合又は炭素数１～２０の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子に置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ^b25は、炭素数１～２１の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^b26は、単結合又は炭素数１～２０の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子、ヒドロキシ基又はアルキルカルボニルオキシ基に置換されていてもよい。該アルキルカルボニルオキシ基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該アルキルカルボニルオキシ基に含まれる水素原子は、ヒドロキシ基に置換されていてもよい。
ただし、Ｌ^b24、Ｌ^b25及びＬ^b26の合計炭素数は２１以下である。］ Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-3) include groups represented by formulas (b1-9) to (b1-11).

[In formula (b1-9),
L ^b19 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 23 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b20 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 23 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkylcarbonyloxy group. -CH ₂ - contained in the alkylcarbonyloxy group may be replaced with -O- or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alkylcarbonyloxy group may be substituted with a hydroxyl group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^b19 and L ^b20 is 23 or less.
In formula (b1-10),
L ^b21 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 21 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b22 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 21 carbon atoms.
L ^b23 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 21 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkylcarbonyloxy group. -CH ₂ - contained in the alkylcarbonyloxy group may be replaced with -O- or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alkylcarbonyloxy group may be substituted with a hydroxyl group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^b21 , L ^b22 and L ^b23 is 21 or less.
In formula (b1-11),
L ^b24 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom.
L ^b25 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 21 carbon atoms.
L ^b26 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkylcarbonyloxy group. -CH ₂ - contained in the alkylcarbonyloxy group may be replaced with -O- or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alkylcarbonyloxy group may be substituted with a hydroxyl group.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^b24 , L ^b25 and L ^b26 is 21 or less.]

In addition, in the groups represented by formulae (b1-9) to (b1-11), when a hydrogen atom contained in a saturated hydrocarbon group is replaced with an alkylcarbonyloxy group, the number of carbon atoms before replacement is regarded as the number of carbon atoms of the saturated hydrocarbon group.

Examples of alkylcarbonyloxy groups include acetyloxy, propionyloxy, butyryloxy, cyclohexylcarbonyloxy, and adamantylcarbonyloxy groups.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-4) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-5) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-6) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-7) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-8) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-2) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-9) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-10) include the following.

Examples of the group represented by formula (b1-11) include the following.

Examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Y include the groups represented by formulae (Y1) to (Y11) and (Y36) to (Y38) given above as examples of ^X0 in formula (I).
When a -CH ₂ - contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Y is replaced by -O-, -S(O) ₂ - or -CO-, the number may be 1 or may be 2 or more. Examples of such groups include groups represented by formulae (Y12) to (Y35) and formulae (Y39) to (Y41).

The alicyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Y is preferably a group represented by any one of the formulae (Y1) to (Y20), (Y26), (Y27), (Y30), (Y31), (Y39) to (Y41), more preferably a group represented by the formula (Y11), (Y15), (Y16), (Y20), (Y26), (Y27), (Y30), (Y31), (Y39) or (Y40), and even more preferably a group represented by the formula (Y11), (Y15), (Y20), (Y26), (Y27), (Y30), (Y31), (Y39) or (Y40).
When the alicyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Y is a spiro ring containing an oxygen atom, such as those of formulae (Y28) to (Y35) and (Y39) to (Y40), the alkanediyl group between the two oxygen atoms preferably has one or more fluorine atoms. Furthermore, among the alkanediyl groups contained in the ketal structure, it is preferable that the methylene group adjacent to the oxygen atom is not substituted with a fluorine atom.

Examples of the substituent on the methyl group represented by Y include a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a glycidyloxy group, a -(CH ₂ ) _ja -CO-O-R ^b1 group, or a -(CH ₂ ) _ja -O-CO-R ^b1 group (wherein R ^b1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof, -CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -SO ₂ - or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alkyl group, the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the aromatic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by a hydroxy group or a fluorine atom; and ja represents an integer of 0 to 4).
Substituents of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Y include a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted with a hydroxy group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 21 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, a glycidyloxy group, a -(CH ₂ ) _ja -CO-O-R ^b1 group, or a -(CH ₂ ) _ja -O-CO-R ^b1 group (wherein R ^b1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, or a group combining these, and -CH ₂ - contained in the alkyl group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group is -O-, -SO ₂ - or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alkyl group, the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the aromatic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by a hydroxy group or a fluorine atom. ja represents an integer of 0 to 4.)

Examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
Examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a methylcyclohexyl group, a dimethylcyclohexyl group, a cycloheptyl group, a cyclooctyl group, a norbornyl group, and an adamantyl group.
Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, an anthryl group, a biphenyl group, and a phenanthryl group. The aromatic hydrocarbon group may have a chain hydrocarbon group or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, and examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group having a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms include a tolyl group, a xylyl group, a cumenyl group, a mesityl group, a p-ethylphenyl group, a p-tert-butylphenyl group, a 2,6-diethylphenyl group, and a 2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl group, and examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms include a p-cyclohexylphenyl group and a p-adamantylphenyl group.
Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group, an octyl group, a nonyl group, a decyl group, an undecyl group, and a dodecyl group.
Examples of the alkyl group substituted with a hydroxy group include hydroxyalkyl groups such as a hydroxymethyl group and a hydroxyethyl group.
Examples of the alkoxy group include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, a pentyloxy group, a hexyloxy group, a heptyloxy group, an octyloxy group, a decyloxy group, and a dodecyloxy group.
Examples of the aralkyl group include a benzyl group, a phenethyl group, a phenylpropyl group, a naphthylmethyl group, and a naphthylethyl group.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyl group include an acetyl group, a propionyl group, and a butyryl group.

Examples of Y include the following.

Y is preferably an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, more preferably an adamantyl group which may have a substituent, in which -CH ₂ - constituting the alicyclic hydrocarbon group or the adamantyl group may be replaced by -CO-, -S(O) ₂ - or -CO-, and further preferably an adamantyl group, a hydroxyadamantyl group, an oxoadamantyl group or a group represented by the following:

As the anion in the salt represented by formula (B1), anions represented by formulas (B1-A-1) to (B1-A-55) are preferred [hereinafter, they may be referred to as "anion (B1-A-1)" depending on the formula number. ], and anions represented by any of formulas (B1-A-1) to (B1-A-4), (B1-A-9), (B1-A-10), (B1-A-24) to (B1-A-33), (B1-A-36) to (B1-A-40), and (B1-A-47) to (B1-A-55) are more preferred.

ここでＲ^ｉ２～Ｒ^ｉ７は、互いに独立に、例えば、炭素数１～４のアルキル基、好ましくはメチル基又はエチル基である。Ｒ^ｉ８は、例えば、炭素数１～１２の脂肪族炭化水素基、好ましくは炭素数１～４のアルキル基、炭素数５～１２の脂環式炭化水素基又はこれらを組合せることにより形成される基、より好ましくはメチル基、エチル基、シクロヘキシル基又はアダマンチル基である。Ｌ^Ａ４は、単結合又は炭素数１～４のアルカンジイル基である。
Ｑ^ｂ１及びＱ^ｂ２は、上記と同じ意味を表す。
式（Ｂ１）で表される塩におけるアニオンとしては、具体的には、特開２０１０－２０４６４６号公報に記載されたアニオンが挙げられる。

Here, R ⁱ² to R ⁱ⁷ are each independently, for example, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably a methyl group or an ethyl group. ^{R i8} is, for example, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, or a group formed by combining these, more preferably a methyl group, an ethyl group, a cyclohexyl group, or an adamantyl group. L ^A4 is a single bond or an alkanediyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
Q ^b1 and Q ^b2 have the same meaning as above.
Specific examples of the anion in the salt represented by formula (B1) include the anions described in JP-A-2010-204646.

Preferred anions in the salt represented by formula (B1) include the anions represented by formulas (B1a-1) to (B1a-34).

Among these, anions represented by any of formulas (B1a-1) to (B1a-3), (B1a-7) to (B1a-16), (B1a-18), (B1a-19), and (B1a-22) to (B1a-30) are preferred.

式（ｂ２－１）～式（ｂ２－４）において、
Ｒ^b4～Ｒ^b6は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～３０の鎖式炭化水素基、炭素数３～３６の脂環式炭化水素基又は炭素数６～３６の芳香族炭化水素基を表し、該鎖式炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、ヒドロキシ基、炭素数１～１２のアルコキシ基、炭素数３～１２の脂環式炭化水素基又は炭素数６～１８の芳香族炭化水素基で置換されていてもよく、該脂環式炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、ハロゲン原子、炭素数１～１８の脂肪族炭化水素基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニル基又はグリシジルオキシ基で置換されていてもよく、該芳香族炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、ハロゲン原子、ヒドロキシ基又は炭素数１～１２のアルコキシ基で置換されていてもよい。
Ｒ^b4とＲ^b5とは、互いに結合してそれらが結合する硫黄原子と一緒になって環を形成してもよく、該環に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わってもよい。
Ｒ^b7及びＲ^b8は、それぞれ独立に、ヒドロキシ基、炭素数１～１２の脂肪族炭化水素基又は炭素数１～１２のアルコキシ基を表す。
ｍ２及びｎ２は、それぞれ独立に０～５のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｍ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b7は同一でも異なってもよく、ｎ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b8は同一でも異なってもよい。
Ｒ^b9及びＲ^b10は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～３６の鎖式炭化水素基又は炭素数３～３６の脂環式炭化水素基を表す。
Ｒ^b9とＲ^b10とは、互いに結合してそれらが結合する硫黄原子と一緒になって環を形成してもよく、該環に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わってもよい。
Ｒ^b11は、水素原子、炭素数１～３６の鎖式炭化水素基、炭素数３～３６の脂環式炭化水素基又は炭素数６～１８の芳香族炭化水素基を表す。
Ｒ^b12は、炭素数１～１２の鎖式炭化水素基、炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基又は炭素数６～１８の芳香族炭化水素基を表し、該鎖式炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、炭素数６～１８の芳香族炭化水素基で置換されていてもよく、該芳香族炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、炭素数１～１２のアルコキシ基又は炭素数１～１２のアルキルカルボニルオキシ基で置換されていてもよい。
Ｒ^b11とＲ^b12とは、互いに結合してそれらが結合する－ＣＨ－ＣＯ－を含めて環を形成していてもよく、該環に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わってもよい。
Ｒ^b13～Ｒ^b18は、それぞれ独立に、ヒドロキシ基、炭素数１～１２の脂肪族炭化水素基又は炭素数１～１２のアルコキシ基を表す。
Ｌ^b31は、硫黄原子又は酸素原子を表す。
ｏ２、ｐ２、ｓ２、及びｔ２は、それぞれ独立に、０～５のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｑ２及びｒ２は、それぞれ独立に、０～４のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｕ２は０又は１を表す。
ｏ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b13は同一又は相異なり、ｐ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b14は同一又は相異なり、ｑ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b15は同一又は相異なり、ｒ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b16は同一又は相異なり、ｓ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b17は同一又は相異なり、ｔ２が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^b18は同一又は相異なる。
脂肪族炭化水素基とは、鎖式炭化水素基及び脂環式炭化水素基を表す。
鎖式炭化水素基としては、メチル基、エチル基、プロピル基、イソプロピル基、ブチル基、ｓｅｃ－ブチル基、ｔｅｒｔ－ブチル基、ペンチル基、ヘキシル基、オクチル基及び２－エチルヘキシル基のアルキル基が挙げられる。
特に、Ｒ^b9～Ｒ^b12の鎖式炭化水素基は、好ましくは炭素数１～１２である。
脂環式炭化水素基としては、単環式又は多環式のいずれでもよく、単環式の脂環式炭化水素基としては、シクロプロピル基、シクロブチル基、シクロペンチル基、シクロへキシル基、シクロヘプチル基、シクロオクチル基、シクロデシル基等のシクロアルキル基が挙げられる。多環式の脂環式炭化水素基としては、デカヒドロナフチル基、アダマンチル基、ノルボルニル基及び下記の基等が挙げられる。

特に、Ｒ^b9～Ｒ^b12の脂環式炭化水素基は、好ましくは炭素数３～１８、より好ましくは炭素数４～１２である。
水素原子が脂肪族炭化水素基で置換された脂環式炭化水素基としては、メチルシクロヘキシル基、ジメチルシクロへキシル基、２－メチルアダマンタン－２－イル基、２－エチルアダマンタン－２－イル基、２－イソプロピルアダマンタン－２－イル基、メチルノルボルニル基、イソボルニル基等が挙げられる。水素原子が脂肪族炭化水素基で置換された脂環式炭化水素基においては、脂環式炭化水素基と脂肪族炭化水素基との合計炭素数が好ましくは２０以下である。
芳香族炭化水素基としては、フェニル基、ビフェニル基、ナフチル基、フェナントリル基等のアリール基が挙げられる。芳香族炭化水素基は、鎖式炭化水素基又は脂環式炭化水素基を有していてもよく、鎖式炭化水素基を有する芳香族炭化水素基として、トリル基、キシリル基、クメニル基、メシチル基、ｐ－エチルフェニル基、ｐ－ｔｅｒｔ－ブチルフェニル基、２，６－ジエチルフェニル基、２－メチル－６－エチルフェニル基等が挙げられ、脂環式炭化水素基を有する芳香族炭化水素基（ｐ－シクロへキシルフェニル基、ｐ－アダマンチルフェニル基等が挙げられる。なお、芳香族炭化水素基が、鎖式炭化水素基又は脂環式炭化水素基を有する場合は、炭素数１～１８の鎖式炭化水素基及び炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基が好ましい。
水素原子がアルコキシ基で置換された芳香族炭化水素基としては、ｐ－メトキシフェニル基等が挙げられる。
水素原子が芳香族炭化水素基で置換された鎖式炭化水素基としては、ベンジル基、フェネチル基、フェニルプロピル基、トリチル基、ナフチルメチル基、ナフチルエチル基等のアラルキル基が挙げられる。
アルコキシ基としては、メトキシ基、エトキシ基、プロポキシ基、ブトキシ基、ペンチルオキシ基、ヘキシルオキシ基、ヘプチルオキシ基、オクチルオキシ基、デシルオキシ基及びドデシルオキシ基等が挙げられる。
アルキルカルボニル基としては、アセチル基、プロピオニル基及びブチリル基等が挙げられる。
ハロゲン原子としては、フッ素原子、塩素原子、臭素原子及びヨウ素原子等が挙げられる。
アルキルカルボニルオキシ基としては、メチルカルボニルオキシ基、エチルカルボニルオキシ基、プロピルカルボニルオキシ基、イソプロピルカルボニルオキシ基、ブチルカルボニルオキシ基、ｓｅｃ－ブチルカルボニルオキシ基、ｔｅｒｔ－ブチルカルボニルオキシ基、ペンチルカルボニルオキシ基、ヘキシルカルボニルオキシ基、オクチルカルボニルオキシ基及び２－エチルヘキシルカルボニルオキシ基等が挙げられる。
Ｒ^b4とＲ^b5とが互いに結合してそれらが結合する硫黄原子と一緒になって形成する環は、単環式、多環式、芳香族性、非芳香族性、飽和及び不飽和のいずれの環であってもよい。この環は、炭素数３～１８の環が挙げられ、好ましくは炭素数４～１８の環である。また、硫黄原子を含む環は、３員環～１２員環が挙げられ、好ましくは３員環～７員環であり、例えば下記の環が挙げられる。＊は結合位を表す。

Ｒ^b9とＲ^b10とが一緒になって形成する環は、単環式、多環式、芳香族性、非芳香族性、飽和及び不飽和のいずれの環であってもよい。この環は、３員環～１２員環が挙げられ、好ましくは３員環～７員環である。例えば、チオラン－１－イウム環（テトラヒドロチオフェニウム環）、チアン－１－イウム環、１，４－オキサチアン－４－イウム環等が挙げられる。
Ｒ^b11とＲ^b12とが一緒になって形成する環は、単環式、多環式、芳香族性、非芳香族性、飽和及び不飽和のいずれの環であってもよい。この環は、３員環～１２員環が挙げられ、好ましくは３員環～７員環である。オキソシクロヘプタン環、オキソシクロヘキサン環、オキソノルボルナン環、オキソアダマンタン環等が挙げられる。 Examples of the organic cation of Z1 ⁺ include an organic onium cation, an organic sulfonium cation, an organic iodonium cation, an organic ammonium cation, a benzothiazolium cation, and an organic phosphonium cation. Among these, an organic sulfonium cation and an organic iodonium cation are preferred, and an arylsulfonium cation is more preferred. Specific examples include cations represented by any one of formulas (b2-1) to (b2-4) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "cation (b2-1)" depending on the formula number).

In formulas (b2-1) to (b2-4),
R ^b4 to R ^b6 each independently represent a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 36 carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 36 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom contained in the chain hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a halogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, or a glycidyloxy group, and a hydrogen atom contained in the aromatic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
R ^b4 and R ^b5 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the ring may be replaced by --O--, --S-- or --CO--.
R ^b7 and R ^b8 each independently represent a hydroxy group, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
m2 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 5.
When m2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b7s may be the same or different, and when n2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b8s may be the same or different.
R ^b9 and R ^b10 each independently represent a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 36 carbon atoms or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 36 carbon atoms.
R ^b9 and R ^b10 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the ring may be replaced by --O--, --S-- or --CO--.
R ^b11 represents a hydrogen atom, a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 36 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 36 carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms.
R ^b12 represents an open chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom contained in the open chain hydrocarbon group may be substituted with an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the aromatic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
R ^b11 and R ^b12 may be bonded to each other to form a ring including the --CH--CO-- to which they are bonded, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the ring may be replaced by --O--, --S-- or --CO--.
R ^b13 to R ^b18 each independently represent a hydroxy group, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
L ^b31 represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom.
o2, p2, s2, and t2 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 5.
q2 and r2 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4.
u2 represents 0 or 1.
When o2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b13 are the same or different; when p2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b14 are the same or different; when q2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b15 are the same or different; when r2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b16 are the same or different; when s2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b17 are the same or different; and when t2 is 2 or more, multiple R ^b18 are the same or different.
The aliphatic hydrocarbon group refers to a chain hydrocarbon group and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group.
Examples of the chain hydrocarbon group include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl and 2-ethylhexyl groups.
In particular, the chain hydrocarbon groups of R ^b9 to R ^b12 preferably have 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be either monocyclic or polycyclic, and examples of the monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, and cyclodecyl. Examples of the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include decahydronaphthyl, adamantyl, and norbornyl groups, as well as the following groups:

In particular, the alicyclic hydrocarbon groups of R ^b9 to R ^b12 preferably have 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and more preferably have 4 to 12 carbon atoms.
Examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group in which a hydrogen atom is substituted with an aliphatic hydrocarbon group include a methylcyclohexyl group, a dimethylcyclohexyl group, a 2-methyladamantan-2-yl group, a 2-ethyladamantan-2-yl group, a 2-isopropyladamantan-2-yl group, a methylnorbornyl group, an isobornyl group, etc. In the alicyclic hydrocarbon group in which a hydrogen atom is substituted with an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, the total number of carbon atoms in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the aliphatic hydrocarbon group is preferably 20 or less.
Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a biphenyl group, a naphthyl group, and a phenanthryl group. The aromatic hydrocarbon group may have a chain hydrocarbon group or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group. Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group having a chain hydrocarbon group include a tolyl group, a xylyl group, a cumenyl group, a mesityl group, a p-ethylphenyl group, a p-tert-butylphenyl group, a 2,6-diethylphenyl group, and a 2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl group, and examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a p-cyclohexylphenyl group and a p-adamantylphenyl group. When the aromatic hydrocarbon group has a chain hydrocarbon group or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, a chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms are preferred.
An example of the aromatic hydrocarbon group in which a hydrogen atom is substituted with an alkoxy group is a p-methoxyphenyl group.
Examples of the chain hydrocarbon group in which a hydrogen atom has been substituted with an aromatic hydrocarbon group include aralkyl groups such as a benzyl group, a phenethyl group, a phenylpropyl group, a trityl group, a naphthylmethyl group, and a naphthylethyl group.
Examples of the alkoxy group include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, a pentyloxy group, a hexyloxy group, a heptyloxy group, an octyloxy group, a decyloxy group, and a dodecyloxy group.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyl group include an acetyl group, a propionyl group, and a butyryl group.
Examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyloxy group include a methylcarbonyloxy group, an ethylcarbonyloxy group, a propylcarbonyloxy group, an isopropylcarbonyloxy group, a butylcarbonyloxy group, a sec-butylcarbonyloxy group, a tert-butylcarbonyloxy group, a pentylcarbonyloxy group, a hexylcarbonyloxy group, an octylcarbonyloxy group, and a 2-ethylhexylcarbonyloxy group.
The ring formed by R ^b4 and R ^b5 bonding to each other together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded may be any of monocyclic, polycyclic, aromatic, non-aromatic, saturated and unsaturated rings. Examples of this ring include rings having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and preferably rings having 4 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples of the ring containing a sulfur atom include 3- to 12-membered rings, and preferably 3- to 7-membered rings, and examples of such rings include the following rings. * represents a bonding position.

The ring formed by R ^b9 and R ^b10 together may be any of monocyclic, polycyclic, aromatic, non-aromatic, saturated and unsaturated rings. This ring may be a 3- to 12-membered ring, preferably a 3- to 7-membered ring. Examples of the ring include a thiolane-1-ium ring (tetrahydrothiophenium ring), a thian-1-ium ring, and a 1,4-oxathiane-4-ium ring.
The ring formed by R ^b11 and R ^b12 together may be any of monocyclic, polycyclic, aromatic, non-aromatic, saturated and unsaturated rings. This ring may be a 3- to 12-membered ring, preferably a 3- to 7-membered ring. Examples of the ring include an oxocycloheptane ring, an oxocyclohexane ring, an oxonorbornane ring, and an oxoadamantane ring.

Among the cations (b2-1) to (b2-4), the cation (b2-1) is preferred.
Examples of the cation (b2-1) include the following cations.

Examples of the cation (b2-2) include the following cations.

Examples of the cation (b2-3) include the following cations.

Examples of the cation (b2-4) include the following cations.

The acid generator (B) is a combination of the above-mentioned anion and the above-mentioned organic cation, which can be combined in any desired manner. The acid generator (B) is preferably a combination of an anion represented by any of formulas (B1a-1) to (B1a-3), (B1a-7) to (B1a-16), (B1a-18), (B1a-19), and (B1a-22) to (B1a-34), and a cation (b2-1) or a cation (b2-3).

The acid generator (B) is preferably any of those represented by formulas (B1-1) to (B1-48). Among them, those containing an arylsulfonium cation are preferred, and those represented by formulas (B1-1) to (B1-3), (B1-5) to (B1-7), (B1-11) to (B1-14), (B1-20) to (B1-26), (B1-29), and (B1-31) to (B1-48) are particularly preferred.

In the resist composition of the present invention, the content of the carboxylate (I) is preferably from 0.1 to 35% by mass, more preferably from 0.5 to 30% by mass, and even more preferably from 1 to 25% by mass, relative to the solid content of the resist composition.
In addition, when an acid generator (B) or the like is contained, the total content of the carboxylate (I) and the acid generator (B) or the like is preferably 1 part by mass or more (more preferably 3 parts by mass or more) and preferably 55 parts by mass or less (more preferably 50 parts by mass or less, and even more preferably 45 parts by mass or less) relative to 100 parts by mass of the resin (A).

<Resin (A)>
Resin (A) has a structural unit having an acid labile group (hereinafter, may be referred to as "structural unit (a1)"). Resin (A) preferably further contains a structural unit other than the structural unit (a1). Examples of structural units other than the structural unit (a1) include a structural unit having no acid labile group (hereinafter, may be referred to as "structural unit (s)"), structural units other than the structural unit (a1) and the structural unit (s) (for example, a structural unit having a halogen atom described below (hereinafter, may be referred to as "structural unit (a4)"), a structural unit having a non-leaving hydrocarbon group described below (hereinafter, may be referred to as "structural unit (a5)"), and other structural units derived from monomers known in the art.

［式（１）中、Ｒ^a1、Ｒ^a２及びＲ^a3は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～８のアルキル基、炭素数３～２０の脂環式炭化水素基又はこれらを組み合わせた基を表すか、Ｒ^a1及びＲ^a2は互いに結合してそれらが結合する炭素原子とともに炭素数３～２０の脂環式炭化水素基を形成する。
ｍａ及びｎａは、それぞれ独立して、０又は１を表し、ｍａ及びｎａの少なくとも一方は１を表す。
＊は結合位を表す。］

［式（２）中、Ｒ^ａ１’及びＲ^ａ２’は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子又は炭素数１～１２の炭化水素基を表し、Ｒ^ａ３’は、炭素数１～２０の炭化水素基を表すか、Ｒ^ａ２’及びＲ^ａ３’は互いに結合してそれらが結合する炭素原子及びＸとともに炭素数３～２０の複素環を形成し、該炭化水素基及び該複素環に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－Ｓ－で置き換わってもよい。
Ｘは、酸素原子又は硫黄原子を表す。
ｎａ’は、０又は１を表す。
＊は結合部位を表す。］ <Structural Unit (a1)>
The structural unit (a1) is derived from a monomer having an acid labile group (hereinafter, may be referred to as "monomer (a1)").
The acid labile group contained in the resin (A) is preferably a group represented by formula (1) (hereinafter also referred to as group (1)) and/or a group represented by formula (2) (hereinafter also referred to as group (2)).

[In formula (1), R ^a1 , R ^a2 , and R ^a3 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof, or R ^a1 and R ^a2 are bonded to each other to form an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded.
ma and na each independently represent 0 or 1, and at least one of ma and na represents 1.
* indicates the bond position.

[In formula (2), R ^a1' and R ^a2' each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; R ^a3' represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or R ^a2' and R ^a3' are bonded to each other to form a heterocycle having 3 to 20 carbon atoms together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded and X, and -CH ₂ - contained in the hydrocarbon group and the heterocycle may be replaced by -O- or -S-.
X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
na′ represents 0 or 1.
* indicates a binding site.]

アルキル基と脂環式炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基としては、例えば、メチルシクロヘキシル基、ジメチルシクロへキシル基、メチルノルボルニル基、シクロヘキシルメチル基、アダマンチルメチル基、アダマンチルジメチル基、ノルボルニルエチル基等が挙げられる。
好ましくは、ｍａは０であり、ｎａは１である。
Ｒ^ａ１及びＲ^ａ２が互いに結合して非芳香族炭化水素環を形成する場合の－Ｃ（Ｒ^a1）（Ｒ^a2）（Ｒ^a3）としては、下記の環が挙げられる。非芳香族炭化水素環は、好ましくは炭素数３～１２である。＊は－Ｏ－との結合部位を表す。

Examples of the alkyl group for R ^a1 , R ^a2 and R ^a3 include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group and an octyl group.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group in R ^a1 , R ^a2 and R ^a3 may be either monocyclic or polycyclic. Examples of the monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include cycloalkyl groups such as a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cycloheptyl group and a cyclooctyl group. Examples of the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a decahydronaphthyl group, an adamantyl group, a norbornyl group and the following groups (* represents a bonding site). The number of carbon atoms in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group in ^{R a1} , R ^a2 and R ^a3 is preferably 3 to 16.

Examples of the group combining an alkyl group with an alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a methylcyclohexyl group, a dimethylcyclohexyl group, a methylnorbornyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, an adamantylmethyl group, an adamantyldimethyl group, and a norbornylethyl group.
Preferably, ma is 0 and na is 1.
When R ^a1 and R ^a2 are bonded to each other to form a non-aromatic hydrocarbon ring, examples of -C(R ^a1 )(R ^a2 )(R ^a3 ) include the following rings. The non-aromatic hydrocarbon ring preferably has 3 to 12 carbon atoms. * represents the bonding site with -O-.

Ｒ^ａ１’及びＲ^ａ２’のうち、少なくとも１つは水素原子であることが好ましい。
ｎａ’は、好ましくは０である。 Examples of the hydrocarbon group for R ^a1′ , R ^a2′ and R ^a3′ include an alkyl group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group and a group formed by combining these groups.
Examples of the alkyl group and alicyclic hydrocarbon group include the same groups as those exemplified for R ^a1 , R ^a2 and R ^a3 .
Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, an anthryl group, a biphenyl group, and a phenanthryl group.
Examples of the combined group include a group combining the above-mentioned alkyl group and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group (for example, a cycloalkylalkyl group), an aralkyl group such as a benzyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having an alkyl group (p-methylphenyl group, p-tert-butylphenyl group, tolyl group, xylyl group, cumenyl group, mesityl group, 2,6-diethylphenyl group, 2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl group, etc.), an aromatic hydrocarbon group having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group (p-cyclohexylphenyl group, p-adamantylphenyl group, etc.), and an aryl-cycloalkyl group such as a phenylcyclohexyl group.
When R ^a1' and R ^a2' are bonded to each other to form a heterocycle together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded and X, -C(R ^a1' )(R ^a2' )-X-R ^a3' includes the following rings: * represents a bonding site.

At least one of R ^a1' and R ^a2' is preferably a hydrogen atom.
na′ is preferably 0.

Examples of the group (1) include the following groups.
A group in which R ^a1 , R ^a2 and R ^a3 in the formula (1) are alkyl groups, ma = 0 and na = 1. The group is preferably a tert-butoxycarbonyl group.
A group in which R ^a1 and R ^a2 together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded form an adamantyl group, R ^a3 is an alkyl group, ma=0, and na=1 in the formula (1).
A group represented by formula (1), in which R ^a1 and R ^a2 each independently represent an alkyl group, R ^a3 represents an adamantyl group, ma=0, and na=1.
Specific examples of the group (1) include the following groups: * represents a binding site.

Specific examples of the group (2) include the following groups, in which * represents a bonding position.

Monomer (a1) is preferably a monomer having an acid labile group and an ethylenically unsaturated bond, more preferably a (meth)acrylic monomer having an acid labile group.

Among the (meth)acrylic monomers having an acid labile group, those having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms are preferred. If a resin (A) having a structural unit derived from a monomer (a1) having a bulky structure such as an alicyclic hydrocarbon group is used in a resist composition, the resolution of the resist pattern can be improved.

［式（ａ１－０）、式（ａ１－１）及び式（ａ１－２）中、
Ｌ^a01、Ｌ^ａ１及びＬ^ａ２は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－又は^＊－Ｏ－（ＣＨ_２）_ｋ１－ＣＯ－Ｏ－を表し、ｋ１は１～７のいずれかの整数を表し、＊は－ＣＯ－との結合位を表す。
Ｒ^a01、Ｒ^ａ４及びＲ^ａ５は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ^a02、Ｒ^a03及びＲ^a04は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～８のアルキル基、炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基又はこれらを組み合わせた基を表す。
Ｒ^ａ６及びＲ^ａ７は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～８のアルキル基、炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基又はこれらを組合せることにより形成される基を表す。
ｍ１は０～１４のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｎ１は０～１０のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｎ１’は０～３のいずれかの整数を表す。］ Examples of the structural unit derived from a (meth)acrylic monomer having group (1) include a structural unit represented by formula (a1-0) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as structural unit (a1-0)), a structural unit represented by formula (a1-1) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as structural unit (a1-1)), or a structural unit represented by formula (a1-2) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as structural unit (a1-2)). Preferably, it is at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of the structural unit (a1-1) and the structural unit (a1-2). These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[In formula (a1-0), formula (a1-1) and formula (a1-2),
L ^a01 , L ^a1 and L ^a2 each independently represent --O-- or ^* -O--(CH ₂ ) _k1 -CO--O--, where k1 represents an integer of 1 to 7, and * represents the bonding position with --CO--.
R ^a01 , R ^a4 and R ^a5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a02 , R ^a03 and R ^a04 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms or a combination thereof.
R ^a6 and R ^a7 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, or a group formed by combining these.
m1 represents an integer of 0 to 14.
n1 represents an integer of 0 to 10.
n1' represents an integer of 0 to 3.

R ^a01 , R ^a4 and R ^a5 are preferably methyl groups.
L ^a01 , L ^a1 and L ^a2 are preferably an oxygen atom or *-O-(CH ₂ ) _k01 -CO-O- (wherein k01 is preferably an integer of 1 to 4, more preferably 1), and more preferably an oxygen atom.
Examples of the alkyl group, alicyclic hydrocarbon group and combination thereof for R ^a02 , R ^a03 , R ^a04 , R ^a6 and R ^a77 include the same groups as those exemplified for R ^a1 , R ^a2 and R ^a3 in formula (1).
The alkyl group in R ^a02 , R ^a03 , and R ^a04 is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably a methyl group or an ethyl group, and even more preferably a methyl group.
The alkyl group for R ^a6 and R ^a7 is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably a methyl group, an ethyl group or an isopropyl group, and even more preferably an ethyl group or an isopropyl group.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group of R ^a02 , R ^a03 and R ^a04 preferably has 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms.
In the group in which an alkyl group and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group are combined, the total number of carbon atoms in the combination of the alkyl group and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group is preferably 18 or less.
R ^a02 and R ^a03 are preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably a methyl group or an ethyl group.
R ^a04 is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably a methyl group, an ethyl group, a cyclohexyl group or an adamantyl group.
R ^a6 and R ^a7 are preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably a methyl group, an ethyl group or an isopropyl group, and even more preferably an ethyl group or an isopropyl group.
m1 is preferably an integer of 0 to 3, and more preferably 0 or 1.
n1 is preferably an integer of 0 to 3, and more preferably 0 or 1.
n1' is preferably 0 or 1.

Examples of the structural unit (a1-0) include structural units represented by any one of formulas (a1-0-1) to (a1-0-12) and structural units in which a methyl group corresponding to R ^a01 in the structural unit (a1-0) is replaced with a hydrogen atom, and structural units represented by any one of formulas (a1-0-1) to (a1-0-10) are preferred.

Examples of the structural unit (a1-1) include structural units derived from monomers described in JP 2010-204646 A. Among these, structural units represented by any one of formulas (a1-1-1) to (a1-1-4) and structural units in which the methyl group corresponding to R ^a4 in the structural unit (a1-1) is replaced with a hydrogen atom are preferred, and structural units represented by any one of formulas (a1-1-1) to (a1-1-4) are more preferred.

Examples of the structural unit (a1-2) include structural units represented by any one of formulas (a1-2-1) to (a1-2-6) and structural units in which a methyl group corresponding to R ^a5 in the structural unit (a1-2) is replaced with a hydrogen atom, and structural units represented by any one of formulas (a1-2-2), (a1-2-5) and (a1-2-6) are preferred.

When the resin (A) contains the structural unit (a1-0), the content thereof is usually 5 to 60 mol %, preferably 5 to 50 mol %, and more preferably 10 to 40 mol %, based on all structural units in the resin (A).
When resin (A) contains the structural unit (a1-1) and/or the structural unit (a1-2), the total content thereof is usually 10 to 95 mol %, preferably 15 to 85 mol %, more preferably 15 to 80 mol %, even more preferably 20 to 80 mol %, and still more preferably 20 to 75 mol %, based on all structural units in resin (A).

［式（ａ１－４）中、
Ｒ^a32は、水素原子、ハロゲン原子、又は、ハロゲン原子を有してもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
Ｒ^a33は、ハロゲン原子、ヒドロキシ基、炭素数１～６のアルキル基、炭素数１～６のアルコキシ基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニル基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニルオキシ基、アクリロイルオキシ基又はメタクリロイルオキシ基を表す。
ｌａは０～４のいずれかの整数を表す。ｌａが２以上である場合、複数のＲ^a33は互いに同一であっても異なってもよい。
Ｒ^a34及びＲ^a35はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子又は炭素数１～１２の炭化水素基を表し、Ｒ^a36は、炭素数１～２０の炭化水素基を表すか、Ｒ^a35及びＲ^a36は互いに結合してそれらが結合する－Ｃ－Ｏ－とともに炭素数２～２０の２価の炭化水素基を形成し、該炭化水素基及び該２価の炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－Ｓ－で置き換わってもよい。］ An example of the structural unit (a1) having a group (2) is a structural unit represented by formula (a1-4) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "structural unit (a1-4)").

[In formula (a1-4),
R ^a32 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
R ^a33 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group.
la represents an integer of 0 to 4. When la is 2 or more, multiple R ^a33 may be the same or different.
R ^a34 and R ^a35 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R ^a36 represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or R ^a35 and R ^a36 are bonded to each other to form a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms together with the -C-O- to which they are bonded, and the -CH ₂ - contained in the hydrocarbon group and the divalent hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -S-.]

芳香族炭化水素基としては、フェニル基、ナフチル基、アントリル基、ビフェニル基、フェナントリル基等のアリール基が挙げられる。
組み合わせた基としては、上述したアルキル基と脂環式炭化水素基とを組み合わせた基（例えばシクロアルキルアルキル基）、ベンジル基等のアラルキル基、アルキル基を有する芳香族炭化水素基（ｐ－メチルフェニル基、ｐ－ｔｅｒｔ－ブチルフェニル基、トリル基、キシリル基、クメニル基、メシチル基、２，６－ジエチルフェニル基、２－メチル－６－エチルフェニル基等）、脂環式炭化水素基を有する芳香族炭化水素基（ｐ－シクロヘキシルフェニル基、ｐ－アダマンチルフェニル基等）、フェニルシクロヘキシル基等のアリール－シクロアルキル基等が挙げられる。特に、Ｒ^a36としては、炭素数１～１８のアルキル基、炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基、炭素数６～１８の芳香族炭化水素基又はこれらを組み合わせることにより形成される基が挙げられる。 Examples of the alkyl group in R ^a32 and R ^a33 include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, etc. The alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably a methyl group or an ethyl group, and even more preferably a methyl group.
Examples of the halogen atom in R ^a32 and R ^a33 include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, and a bromine atom.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom include a trifluoromethyl group, a difluoromethyl group, a methyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl group, an ethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl group, a propyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutyl group, a butyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, and a perfluorohexyl group.
Examples of the alkoxy group include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, a pentyloxy group, and a hexyloxy group. Among these, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms is preferred, a methoxy group or an ethoxy group is more preferred, and a methoxy group is even more preferred.
Alkylcarbonyl groups include acetyl, propionyl and butyryl groups.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyloxy group include an acetyloxy group, a propionyloxy group, and a butyryloxy group.
Examples of the hydrocarbon group for R ^a34 , R ^a35 and R ^a36 include an alkyl group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group and a combination thereof.
Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, and an octyl group.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be either monocyclic or polycyclic. Examples of the monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl. Examples of the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include decahydronaphthyl, adamantyl, and norbornyl groups, as well as the following groups (* indicates a bonding site):

Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, an anthryl group, a biphenyl group, and a phenanthryl group.
Examples of the combined group include a group combining the above-mentioned alkyl group and alicyclic hydrocarbon group (for example, a cycloalkylalkyl group), an aralkyl group such as a benzyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having an alkyl group (p-methylphenyl group, p-tert-butylphenyl group, tolyl group, xylyl group, cumenyl group, mesityl group, 2,6-diethylphenyl group, 2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl group, etc.), an aromatic hydrocarbon group having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group (p-cyclohexylphenyl group, p-adamantylphenyl group, etc.), an aryl-cycloalkyl group such as a phenylcyclohexyl group, etc. In particular, R ^a36 may be an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, or a group formed by combining these.

In formula (a1-4), R ^a32 is preferably a hydrogen atom.
R ^a33 is preferably an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably a methoxy group or an ethoxy group, and even more preferably a methoxy group.
As la, 0 or 1 is preferable, and 0 is more preferable.
R ^a34 is preferably a hydrogen atom.
R ^a35 is preferably an alkyl group or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably a methyl group or an ethyl group.
The hydrocarbon group of R ^a36 is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, or a group formed by combining these, and more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7 to 18 carbon atoms. The alkyl group and alicyclic hydrocarbon group in R ^a36 are preferably unsubstituted. The aromatic hydrocarbon group in R ^a36 is preferably an aromatic ring having an aryloxy group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

樹脂（Ａ）が、構造単位（ａ１－４）を有する場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位の合計に対して、５～６０モル％であることが好ましく、５～５０モル％であることがより好ましく、１０～４０モル％であることがさらに好ましい。 The --OC(R ^a34 )(R ^a35 )--O--R ^a36 in the structural unit (a1-4) is eliminated upon contact with an acid (eg, p-toluenesulfonic acid) to form a hydroxy group.
Examples of the structural unit (a1-4) include structural units derived from monomers described in JP 2010-204646 A. Preferred examples include structural units represented by formulas (a1-4-1) to (a1-4-12) and structural units in which the hydrogen atom corresponding to R ^a32 is replaced with a methyl group, and more preferred examples include structural units represented by formulas (a1-4-1) to (a1-4-5) and (a1-4-10).

When the resin (A) has the structural unit (a1-4), the content thereof is preferably 5 to 60 mol %, more preferably 5 to 50 mol %, and even more preferably 10 to 40 mol %, based on the total amount of all structural units in the resin (A).

式（ａ１－５）中、
Ｒ^a8は、ハロゲン原子を有してもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基、水素原子又はハロゲン原子を表す。
Ｚ^a1は、単結合又は＊－（ＣＨ₂）_h3－ＣＯ－Ｌ⁵⁴－を表し、ｈ３は１～４のいずれかの整数を表し、＊は、Ｌ⁵¹との結合位を表す。
Ｌ⁵¹、Ｌ⁵²、Ｌ⁵³及びＬ⁵⁴は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－又は－Ｓ－を表す。
ｓ１は、１～３のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｓ１’は、０～３のいずれかの整数を表す。 Examples of the structural unit derived from a (meth)acrylic monomer having the group (2) include a structural unit represented by formula (a1-5) (hereinafter, may be referred to as "structural unit (a1-5)").

In formula (a1-5),
R ^a8 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom.
Z ^a1 represents a single bond or *-(CH ₂ ) _h3 -CO-L ⁵⁴ -, where h3 represents an integer of 1 to 4, and * represents the bonding position with L ⁵¹ .
L ⁵¹ , L ⁵² , L ⁵³ and L ⁵⁴ each independently represent --O-- or --S--.
s1 represents an integer of 1 to 3.
s1′ represents an integer of 0 to 3.

Examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom and a chlorine atom, with a fluorine atom being preferred.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a fluoromethyl group, and a trifluoromethyl group.
In formula (a1-5), R ^a8 is preferably a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a trifluoromethyl group.
L ⁵¹ is preferably an oxygen atom.
It is preferable that one of L ⁵² and L ⁵³ is —O— and the other is —S—.
It is preferable that s1 is 1.
s1' is preferably an integer of 0 to 2.
Z ^a1 is preferably a single bond or *--CH ₂ --CO--O--.

樹脂（Ａ）が、構造単位（ａ１－５）を有する場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、１～５０モル％が好ましく、３～４５モル％がより好ましく、５～４０モル％がさらに好ましく、５～３０モル％がさらにより好ましい。 Examples of the structural unit (a1-5) include structural units derived from monomers described in JP-A-2010-61117. Among them, the structural units represented by formulae (a1-5-1) to (a1-5-4) are preferred, and the structural unit represented by formula (a1-5-1) or (a1-5-2) is more preferred.

When the resin (A) has the structural unit (a1-5), the content thereof is preferably 1 to 50 mol %, more preferably 3 to 45 mol %, even more preferably 5 to 40 mol %, and still more preferably 5 to 30 mol %, based on all structural units of the resin (A).

［式（ａ１－０Ｘ）中、
Ｒ^ｘ１は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ^ｘ２及びＲ^ｘ３は、互いに独立に、炭素数１～６の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ａｒ^ｘ１は、炭素数６～３６の芳香族炭化水素基を表す。］ Examples of the structural unit (a1) include a structural unit represented by the formula (a1-0X) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a structural unit (a1-0X)).

[In formula (a1-0X),
R ^x1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^x2 and R ^x3 each independently represent a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
Ar ^x1 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 36 carbon atoms.

The saturated hydrocarbon group for R ^x2 and R ^x3 includes an alkyl group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, and a group formed by combining these.
Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, and a hexyl group.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be either monocyclic or polycyclic, and examples of the monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a cyclopropyl group, a cyclobutyl group, a cyclopentyl group, and a cyclohexyl group.
Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group for Ar ^x1 include aryl groups having 6 to 36 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, and anthryl group.
The aromatic hydrocarbon group preferably has 6 to 24 carbon atoms, more preferably has 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and is further preferably a phenyl group.
Ar ^x1 is preferably an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, and even more preferably a phenyl group.
R ^x1 , R ^x2 and R ^x3 are each preferably independently a methyl group or an ethyl group, and more preferably a methyl group.

樹脂（Ａ）が、構造単位（ａ１－０Ｘ）を有する場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）における全モノマーに対して、５～６０モル％であることが好ましく、５～５０モル％であることがより好ましく、１０～４０モル％であることがさらに好ましい。
樹脂（Ａ）は、構造単位（ａ１－０Ｘ）を２種以上含有していてもよい。 Examples of the structural unit (a1-0X) include the structural units shown below and compounds in which the methyl group corresponding to R ^x1 in the structural unit (a1-0X) is replaced with a hydrogen atom. The structural unit (a1-0X) is preferably the structural unit (a1-0X-1) to the structural unit (a1-0X-3).

When the resin (A) has the structural unit (a1-0X), the content thereof is preferably 5 to 60 mol %, more preferably 5 to 50 mol %, and even more preferably 10 to 40 mol %, based on all monomers in the resin (A).
The resin (A) may contain two or more types of the structural unit (a1-0X).

樹脂（Ａ）が上記構造単位を含む場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、５～６０モル％が好ましく、５～５０モル％がより好ましく、１０～４０モル％がさらに好ましい。 Further, examples of the structural unit (a1) include the following structural units.

When the resin (A) contains the above structural unit, the content thereof is preferably from 5 to 60 mol %, more preferably from 5 to 50 mol %, and even more preferably from 10 to 40 mol %, based on the total structural units of the resin (A).

<Structural unit (s)>
The structural unit (s) is derived from a monomer having no acid labile group (hereinafter, may be referred to as "monomer (s)"). As the monomer from which the structural unit (s) is derived, a monomer having no acid labile group known in the resist field can be used.
The structural unit (s) preferably has a hydroxy group or a lactone ring. By using a resin having a structural unit having a hydroxy group and no acid labile group (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "structural unit (a2)") and/or a structural unit having a lactone ring and no acid labile group (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "structural unit (a3)") in the resist composition of the present invention, the resolution of the resist pattern and adhesion to the substrate can be improved.

<Structural unit (a2)>
The hydroxy group contained in the structural unit (a2) may be an alcoholic hydroxy group or a phenolic hydroxy group.
When a resist pattern is produced from the resist composition of the present invention, in the case where a high energy ray such as a KrF excimer laser (248 nm), an electron beam, or EUV (extreme ultraviolet light) is used as an exposure light source, the structural unit (a2) having a phenolic hydroxyl group is preferred, and it is more preferred to use the structural unit (a2-A) described below. In addition, in the case where an ArF excimer laser (193 nm) or the like is used, the structural unit (a2) having an alcoholic hydroxyl group is preferred, and it is more preferred to use the structural unit (a2-1) described below. The structural unit (a2) may contain one type alone, or may contain two or more types.

［式（ａ２－Ａ）中、
Ｒ^a50は、水素原子、ハロゲン原子又はハロゲン原子を有してもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
Ｒ^a51は、ハロゲン原子、ヒドロキシ基、炭素数１～６のアルキル基、炭素数１～６のアルコキシ基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニル基、炭素数２～４のアルキルカルボニルオキシ基、アクリロイルオキシ基又はメタクリロイルオキシ基を表す。
Ａ^a50は、単結合又は＊－Ｘ^a51－（Ａ^a52－Ｘ^a52）_nｂ－を表し、＊は－Ｒ^a50が結合する炭素原子との結合位を表す。
Ａ^a52は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～６のアルカンジイル基を表す。
Ｘ^a51及びＸ^a52は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－、－ＣＯ－Ｏ－又は－Ｏ－ＣＯ－を表す。
ｎｂは、０又は１を表す。
ｍｂは０～４のいずれかの整数を表す。ｍｂが２以上のいずれかの整数である場合、複数のＲ^a51は互いに同一であっても異なってもよい。］ In the structural unit (a2), an example of a structural unit having a phenolic hydroxy group is a structural unit represented by formula (a2-A) (hereinafter, may be referred to as "structural unit (a2-A)").

[In formula (a2-A),
R ^a50 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
R ^a51 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group.
A ^a50 represents a single bond or *-X ^a51 -(A ^a52 -X ^a52 ) _nb -, where * represents the bonding position with the carbon atom to which -R ^a50 is bonded.
Each A ^a52 independently represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
X ^a51 and X ^a52 each independently represent —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—.
nb represents 0 or 1.
mb represents an integer of 0 to 4. When mb is an integer of 2 or more, multiple R ^a51 may be the same or different.

Examples of the halogen atom in R ^a50 include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, and a bromine atom.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom for ^R include a trifluoromethyl group, a difluoromethyl group, a methyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl group, an ethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl group, a propyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutyl group, a butyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, and a perfluorohexyl group.
R ^a50 is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group, and even more preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
Examples of the alkyl group for R ^a51 include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, and a hexyl group.
Examples of the alkoxy group for R ^a51 include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, an isopropoxy group, a butoxy group, a sec-butoxy group, and a tert-butoxy group. An alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms is preferable, a methoxy group or an ethoxy group is more preferable, and a methoxy group is even more preferable.
Examples of the alkylcarbonyl group for R ^a51 include an acetyl group, a propionyl group, and a butyryl group.
The alkylcarbonyloxy group for R ^a51 includes an acetyloxy group, a propionyloxy group, and a butyryloxy group.
R ^a51 is preferably a methyl group.

Examples of *-X ^a51 -(A ^a52 -X ^a52 ) _nb - include *-O-, *-CO-O-, *-O-CO-, *-CO-O-A ^a52 -CO-O-, *-O-CO-A ^a52 -O-, *-O-A ^a52 -CO-O-, *-CO-O-A ^a52 -O-CO-, and *-O-CO-A ^a52 -O-CO-. Of these, *-CO-O-, *-CO-O-A ^a52 -CO-O- or *-O-A ^a52 -CO-O- are preferred.
Examples of the alkanediyl group include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a propane-1,2-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a pentane-1,5-diyl group, a hexane-1,6-diyl group, a butane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, a pentane-1,4-diyl group, and a 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group.
A ^a52 is preferably a methylene group or an ethylene group.
A ^a50 is preferably a single bond, *-CO-O- or *-CO-O-A ^a52 -CO-O-, more preferably a single bond, *-CO-O- or *-CO-O-CH ₂ -CO-O-, further preferably a single bond or *-CO-O-.
mb is preferably 0, 1 or 2, more preferably 0 or 1, and particularly preferably 0.
The hydroxy group is preferably bonded to the ortho- or para-position of the benzene ring, and more preferably to the para-position.

樹脂（Ａ）中に構造単位（ａ２－Ａ）が含まれる場合の構造単位（ａ２－Ａ）の含有率は、全構造単位に対して、好ましくは５～８０モル％であり、より好ましくは１０～７０モル％であり、さらに好ましくは１５～６５モル％であり、さらにより好ましくは２０～６５モル％であり、特に好ましくは２５～５５モル％である。
構造単位（ａ２－Ａ）は、例えば構造単位（ａ１－４）を用いて重合した後、ｐ－トルエンスルホン酸等の酸で処理することにより、樹脂（Ａ）に含ませることができる。また、アセトキシスチレン等を用いて重合した後、テトラメチルアンモニウムヒドロキシド等のアルカリで処理することにより、構造単位（ａ２－Ａ）を樹脂（Ａ）に含ませることができる。 Examples of the structural unit (a2-A) include structural units derived from monomers described in JP-A-2010-204634 and JP-A-2012-12577.
Examples of the structural unit (a2-A) include structural units represented by formulae (a2-2-1) to (a2-2-6) and structural units in which the methyl group corresponding to R ^a50 in the structural unit (a2-A) in the structural units represented by formulae (a2-2-1) to (a2-2-6) is replaced with a hydrogen atom. The structural unit (a2-A) is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (a2-2-1), a structural unit represented by formula (a2-2-3), a structural unit represented by formula (a2-2-6), and a structural unit in which the methyl group corresponding to R ^a50 in the structural unit (a2-A) in the structural unit represented by formula (a2-2-1), the structural unit represented by formula (a2-2-3), or the structural unit represented by formula (a2-2-6) is replaced with a hydrogen atom.

When the structural unit (a2-A) is contained in the resin (A), the content of the structural unit (a2-A) relative to all structural units is preferably 5 to 80 mol %, more preferably 10 to 70 mol %, even more preferably 15 to 65 mol %, still more preferably 20 to 65 mol %, and particularly preferably 25 to 55 mol %.
The structural unit (a2-A) can be incorporated into the resin (A) by, for example, polymerizing the structural unit (a1-4) and then treating with an acid such as p-toluenesulfonic acid. Alternatively, the structural unit (a2-A) can be incorporated into the resin (A) by polymerizing the structural unit (a1-4) and then treating with an alkali such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

式（ａ２－１）中、
Ｌ^a3は、－Ｏ－又は^＊－Ｏ－（ＣＨ₂）_k2－ＣＯ－Ｏ－を表し、
ｋ２は１～７のいずれかの整数を表す。＊は－ＣＯ－との結合位を表す。
Ｒ^a14は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ^a15及びＲ^a16は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子、メチル基又はヒドロキシ基を表す。
ｏ１は、０～１０のいずれかの整数を表す。 An example of the structural unit (a2) having an alcoholic hydroxy group is a structural unit represented by formula (a2-1) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "structural unit (a2-1)").

In formula (a2-1),
L ^a3 represents —O— or ^* —O—(CH ₂ ) _k2 —CO—O—;
k2 represents an integer of 1 to 7. * represents the bonding position with --CO--.
R ^a14 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a15 and R ^a16 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a hydroxy group.
o1 represents an integer of 0 to 10.

In formula (a2-1), L ^a3 is preferably --O--, --O--(CH ₂ ) _f1 --CO--O-- (wherein f1 represents an integer of 1 to 4), and more preferably --O--.
R ^a14 is preferably a methyl group.
R ^a15 is preferably a hydrogen atom.
R ^a16 is preferably a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group.
o1 is preferably an integer of 0 to 3, and more preferably 0 or 1.

樹脂（Ａ）が構造単位（ａ２－１）を含む場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、通常１～４５モル％であり、好ましくは１～４０モル％であり、より好ましくは１～３５モル％であり、さらに好ましくは１～２０モル％であり、さらにより好ましくは１～１０モル％である。 Examples of the structural unit (a2-1) include structural units derived from monomers described in JP 2010-204646 A. A structural unit represented by any one of formulas (a2-1-1) to (a2-1-6) is preferred, a structural unit represented by any one of formulas (a2-1-1) to (a2-1-4) is more preferred, and a structural unit represented by formula (a2-1-1) or formula (a2-1-3) is even more preferred.

When the resin (A) contains the structural unit (a2-1), the content thereof is usually 1 to 45 mol %, preferably 1 to 40 mol %, more preferably 1 to 35 mol %, even more preferably 1 to 20 mol %, and still more preferably 1 to 10 mol %, based on all structural units of the resin (A).

［式（ａ３－１）、式（ａ３－２）、式（ａ３－３）及び式（ａ３－４）中、
Ｌ^ａ４、Ｌ^ａ５及びＬ^ａ６は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－又は＊－Ｏ－（ＣＨ_２）_ｋ３－ＣＯ－Ｏ－（ｋ３は１～７のいずれかの整数を表す。）で表される基を表す。
Ｌ^ａ７は、－Ｏ－、＊－Ｏ－Ｌ^ａ８－Ｏ－、＊－Ｏ－Ｌ^ａ８－ＣＯ－Ｏ－、＊－Ｏ－Ｌ^ａ８－ＣＯ－Ｏ－Ｌ^ａ９－ＣＯ－Ｏ－又は＊－Ｏ－Ｌ^ａ８－Ｏ－ＣＯ－Ｌ^ａ９－Ｏ－を表す。
Ｌ^ａ８及びＬ^ａ９は、それぞれ独立に、炭素数１～６のアルカンジイル基を表す。
＊はカルボニル基との結合部位を表す。
Ｒ^ａ１８、Ｒ^ａ１９及びＲ^ａ２０は、それぞれ独立に、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ^ａ２４は、ハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基、水素原子又はハロゲン原子を表す。
Ｘ^ａ３は、－ＣＨ_２－又は酸素原子を表す。
Ｒ^ａ２１は炭素数１～４の脂肪族炭化水素基を表す。
Ｒ^ａ２２、Ｒ^ａ２３及びＲ^ａ２５は、それぞれ独立に、カルボキシ基、シアノ基又は炭素数１～４の脂肪族炭化水素基を表す。
ｐ１は０～５のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｑ１は、０～３のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｒ１は、０～３のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｗ１は、０～８のいずれかの整数を表す。
ｐ１、ｑ１、ｒ１及び／又はｗ１が２以上のとき、複数のＲ^ａ２１、Ｒ^ａ２２、Ｒ^ａ２３及び／又はＲ^ａ２５は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよい。］ <Structural unit (a3)>
The lactone ring of the structural unit (a3) may be a monocyclic ring such as a β-propiolactone ring, a γ-butyrolactone ring, or a δ-valerolactone ring, or may be a condensed ring of a monocyclic lactone ring with another ring. Preferred examples include a γ-butyrolactone ring, an adamantane lactone ring, or a bridged ring containing a γ-butyrolactone ring structure (for example, a structural unit represented by the following formula (a3-2)).
The structural unit (a3) is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (a3-1), formula (a3-2), formula (a3-3) or formula (a3-4). One of these may be contained alone, or two or more of them may be contained.

[In formula (a3-1), formula (a3-2), formula (a3-3) and formula (a3-4),
L ^a4 , L ^a5 and L ^a6 each independently represent a group represented by —O— or *-O-(CH ₂ ) _k3 —CO—O- (k3 represents an integer of any one of 1 to 7).
L ^a7 represents -O-, *-OL ^a8 -O-, *-OL ^a8 -CO-O-, *-OL ^a8 -CO-OL ^a9 -CO-O- or *-OL ^a8 -O-CO-L ^a9 -O-.
L ^a8 and L ^a9 each independently represent an alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
* indicates the bonding site with the carbonyl group.
R ^a18 , R ^a19 and R ^a20 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a24 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom.
X ^a3 represents —CH ₂ — or an oxygen atom.
R ^a21 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
R ^a22 , R ^a23 and R ^a25 each independently represent a carboxy group, a cyano group or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
p1 represents an integer of 0 to 5.
q1 represents an integer of 0 to 3.
r1 represents an integer of 0 to 3.
w1 represents an integer of 0 to 8.
When p1, q1, r1 and/or w1 is 2 or more, a plurality of R ^a21 , R ^a22 , R ^a23 and/or R ^a25 may be the same or different from each other.

Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R ^a21 , R ^a22 , R ^a23 and R ^a25 include alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a sec-butyl group and a tert-butyl group.
The halogen atom in R ^a24 includes a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom.
Examples of the alkyl group for R ^a24 include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, and a hexyl group. Of these, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms is preferable, and a methyl group or an ethyl group is more preferable.
Examples of the alkyl group having a halogen atom for R ^a24 include a trifluoromethyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a perfluoroisopropyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a perfluorosec-butyl group, a perfluorotert-butyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, a perfluorohexyl group, a trichloromethyl group, a tribromomethyl group, and a triiodomethyl group.

Examples of the alkanediyl group in L ^a8 and L ^a9 include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a propane-1,2-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a pentane-1,5-diyl group, a hexane-1,6-diyl group, a butane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, a pentane-1,4-diyl group, and a 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group.

In formulae (a3-1) to (a3-3), L ^a4 to L ^a6 each independently represent preferably —O— or *-O-(CH ₂ ) _k3 -CO-O-, where k3 is an integer from 1 to 4, more preferably —O— and *-O-CH ₂ -CO-O-, and still more preferably an oxygen atom.
R ^a18 to R ^a21 are preferably methyl groups.
R ^a22 and R ^a23 each independently preferably represent a carboxy group, a cyano group, or a methyl group.
p1, q1 and r1 each independently represent preferably any integer of 0 to 2, and more preferably 0 or 1.

（式中、Ｒ^ａ２４、Ｌ^ａ７は、上記と同じ意味を表す。） In formula (a3-4), R ^a24 is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group, and even more preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a25 is preferably a carboxy group, a cyano group or a methyl group.
L ^a7 is preferably —O— or *-OL ^a8 —CO—O—, and more preferably —O—, —O—CH ₂ —CO—O— or —O—C ₂ H ₄ —CO—O—.
w1 is preferably an integer of 0 to 2, and more preferably 0 or 1.
In particular, the formula (a3-4) is preferably the formula (a3-4)'.

(In the formula, R ^a24 and L ^a7 have the same meanings as above.)

樹脂（Ａ）が構造単位（ａ３）を含む場合、その合計含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、通常１～７０モル％であり、好ましくは１～６５モル％であり、より好ましくは１～６０モル％である。
また、構造単位（ａ３－１）、構造単位（ａ３－２）、構造単位（ａ３－３）又は構造単位（ａ３－４）の含有率は、それぞれ、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、１～６０モル％が好ましく、１～５０モル％がより好ましく、１～５０モル％がさらに好ましい。 Examples of the structural unit (a3) include structural units derived from monomers described in JP-A-2010-204646, JP-A-2000-122294, and JP-A-2012-41274. As the structural unit (a3), structural units represented by any one of formulas (a3-1-1), (a3-1-2), (a3-2-1), (a3-2-2), (a3-3-1), (a3-3-2), and (a3-4-1) to (a3-4-12), and structural units in which methyl groups corresponding to R ^a18 , R ^a19 , R ^a20 , and R ^a24 in formulas (a3-1) to (a3-4) are replaced with hydrogen atoms are preferred.

When the resin (A) contains the structural unit (a3), the total content thereof is usually 1 to 70 mol %, preferably 1 to 65 mol %, and more preferably 1 to 60 mol %, based on all structural units in the resin (A).
Furthermore, the content of the structural unit (a3-1), the structural unit (a3-2), the structural unit (a3-3) or the structural unit (a3-4) is preferably 1 to 60 mol %, more preferably 1 to 50 mol %, and even more preferably 1 to 50 mol %, based on all structural units of the resin (A).

［式（ａ４）中、
Ｒ⁴¹は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ⁴²は、炭素数１～２４のフッ素原子を有する飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。］
Ｒ⁴²で表される飽和炭化水素基は、鎖式炭化水素基及び単環又は多環の脂環式炭化水素基、並びに、これらを組み合わせることにより形成される基等が挙げられる。 <Structural unit (a4)>
Examples of the structural unit (a4) include the following structural units.

[In formula (a4),
^R41 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ⁴² represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--.]
Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon group represented by R ⁴² include chain hydrocarbon groups, monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, and groups formed by combining these groups.

組み合わせにより形成される基としては、１以上のアルキル基又は１以上のアルカンジイル基と、１以上の脂環式炭化水素基とを組み合わせることにより形成される基が挙げられ、－アルカンジイル基－脂環式炭化水素基、－脂環式炭化水素基－アルキル基、－アルカンジイル基－脂環式炭化水素基－アルキル基等が挙げられる。 Examples of the chain hydrocarbon group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a decyl group, a dodecyl group, a pentadecyl group, a hexadecyl group, a heptadecyl group, and an octadecyl group.
Examples of the monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include cycloalkyl groups such as a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cycloheptyl group, and a cyclooctyl group; and polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups such as a decahydronaphthyl group, an adamantyl group, a norbornyl group, and the following groups (* indicates a bond position):

Examples of groups formed by combination include groups formed by combining one or more alkyl groups or one or more alkanediyl groups with one or more alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, such as -alkanediyl group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group, -alicyclic hydrocarbon group-alkyl group, and -alkanediyl group-alicyclic hydrocarbon group-alkyl group.

［式（ａ４－０）中、
Ｒ^5ａは、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｌ^4ａは、単結合又は炭素数１～４のアルカンジイル基を表す。
Ｌ^3ａは、炭素数１～８のペルフルオロアルカンジイル基又は炭素数３～１２のペルフルオロシクロアルカンジイル基を表す。
Ｒ^6ａは、水素原子又はフッ素原子を表す。］ The structural unit (a4) includes at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of formulae (a4-0), (a4-1), (a4-2), (a4-3) and (a4-4).

[In formula (a4-0),
^R5a represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
L ^4a represents a single bond or an alkanediyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
^L3a represents a perfluoroalkanediyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or a perfluorocycloalkanediyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms.
^R6a represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom.

Examples of the alkanediyl group in ^L4a include linear alkanediyl groups such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, and a butane-1,4-diyl group, and branched alkanediyl groups such as an ethane-1,1-diyl group, a propane-1,2-diyl group, a butane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, and a 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group.

Examples of the perfluoroalkanediyl group in ^L3a include a difluoromethylene group, a perfluoroethylene group, a perfluoropropane-1,1-diyl group, a perfluoropropane-1,3-diyl group, a perfluoropropane-1,2-diyl group, a perfluoropropane-2,2-diyl group, a perfluorobutane-1,4-diyl group, a perfluorobutane-2,2-diyl group, a perfluorobutane-1,2-diyl group, a perfluoropentane-1,5-diyl group, a perfluoropentane-2,2-diyl group, a perfluoropentane- Examples of the perfluorohexane-3,3-diyl group include perfluorohexane-1,6-diyl group, perfluorohexane-2,2-diyl group, perfluorohexane-3,3-diyl group, perfluoroheptane-1,7-diyl group, perfluoroheptane-2,2-diyl group, perfluoroheptane-3,4-diyl group, perfluoroheptane-4,4-diyl group, perfluorooctane-1,8-diyl group, perfluorooctane-2,2-diyl group, perfluorooctane-3,3-diyl group, and perfluorooctane-4,4-diyl group.
Examples of the perfluorocycloalkanediyl group in ^L3a include a perfluorocyclohexanediyl group, a perfluorocyclopentanediyl group, a perfluorocycloheptanediyl group, and a perfluoroadamantanediyl group.

L ^4a is preferably a single bond, a methylene group or an ethylene group, and more preferably a single bond or a methylene group.
L ^3a is preferably a perfluoroalkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and more preferably a perfluoroalkanediyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Examples of the structural unit (a4-0) include the structural units shown below and structural units in which the methyl group corresponding to R ^5a in the structural unit (a4-0) shown below is replaced with a hydrogen atom.

［式（ａ４－１）中、
Ｒ^a41は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ^a42は、置換基を有していてもよい炭素数１～２０の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ａ^a41は、置換基を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルカンジイル基又は式（ａ－ｇ１）で表される基を表す。ただし、Ａ^a41及びＲ^a42のうち少なくとも１つは、置換基としてハロゲン原子（好ましくはフッ素原子）を有する。

〔式（ａ－ｇ１）中、
ｓは０又は１を表す。
Ａ^a42及びＡ^a44は、それぞれ独立に、置換基を有していてもよい炭素数１～５の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ａ^a43は、単結合又は置換基を有していてもよい炭素数１～５の２価の脂肪族炭化水素基を表す。
Ｘ^a41及びＸ^a42は、それぞれ独立に、－Ｏ－、－ＣＯ－、－ＣＯ－Ｏ－又は－Ｏ－ＣＯ－を表す。
ただし、Ａ^a42、Ａ^a43、Ａ^a44、Ｘ^a41及びＸ^a42の炭素数の合計は７以下である。〕
＊は結合位であり、右側の＊が－Ｏ－ＣＯ－Ｒ^a42との結合位である。］

[In formula (a4-1),
R ^a41 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a42 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--.
A ^a41 represents an optionally substituted alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a group represented by formula (a-g1), provided that at least one of A ^a41 and R ^a42 has a halogen atom (preferably a fluorine atom) as a substituent.

[In formula (a-g1),
s represents 0 or 1.
A ^a42 and A ^a44 each independently represent a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms which may have a substituent.
A ^a43 represents a single bond or a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms which may have a substituent.
X ^a41 and X ^a42 each independently represent --O--, --CO--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of A ^a42 , A ^a43 , A ^a44 , X ^a41 and X ^a42 is 7 or less.]
* indicates the bond position, and the * on the right side indicates the bond position with -O-CO-R ^a42 .]

Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon group for R ^a42 include chain saturated hydrocarbon groups, monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups, and groups formed by combining these.

組み合わせにより形成される基としては、１以上のアルキル基又は１以上のアルカンジイル基と、１以上の脂環式飽和炭化水素基とを組み合わせることにより形成される基が挙げられ、－アルカンジイル基－脂環式飽和炭化水素基、－脂環式飽和炭化水素基－アルキル基、－アルカンジイル基－脂環式飽和炭化水素基－アルキル基等が挙げられる。 Examples of the chain saturated hydrocarbon group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a decyl group, a dodecyl group, a pentadecyl group, a hexadecyl group, a heptadecyl group, and an octadecyl group.
Examples of the monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group include cycloalkyl groups such as a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cycloheptyl group, and a cyclooctyl group; and polycyclic alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups such as a decahydronaphthyl group, an adamantyl group, a norbornyl group, and the following groups (* indicates a bond position):

Examples of groups formed by combination include groups formed by combining one or more alkyl groups or one or more alkanediyl groups with one or more alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups, such as -alkanediyl group-alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, -alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group-alkyl group, and -alkanediyl group-alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group-alkyl group.

［式（ａ－ｇ３）中、
Ｘ^a43は、酸素原子、カルボニル基、＊－Ｏ－ＣＯ－又は＊－ＣＯ－Ｏ－を表す。
Ａ^a45は、ハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～１７の脂肪族炭化水素基を表す。
＊はＲ^a42との結合位を表す。］
ただし、Ｒ^a42－Ｘ^a43－Ａ^a45において、Ｒ^a42がハロゲン原子を有しない場合は、Ａ^a45は、少なくとも１つのハロゲン原子を有する炭素数１～１７の脂肪族炭化水素基を表す。 The substituent of R ^a42 is at least one selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom and a group represented by formula (a-g3). The halogen atom includes a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom, and is preferably a fluorine atom.

[In formula (a-g3),
X ^a43 represents an oxygen atom, a carbonyl group, *-O-CO- or *-CO-O-.
A ^a45 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
* represents the bonding position with R ^a42 .
However, in R ^a42 -X ^a43 -A ^a45 , when R ^a42 does not have a halogen atom, A ^a45 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms and at least one halogen atom.

Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for A ^a45 include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl; monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl; and polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups such as decahydronaphthyl, adamantyl, norbornyl, and the following groups (* indicates a bond position).

R ^a42 is preferably a saturated hydrocarbon group which may have a halogen atom, and more preferably a saturated hydrocarbon group having an alkyl group having a halogen atom and/or a group represented by formula (a-g3).
When R ^a42 is a saturated hydrocarbon group having a halogen atom, it is preferably a saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom, more preferably a perfluoroalkyl group or a perfluorocycloalkyl group, still more preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and particularly preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Examples of perfluoroalkyl groups include a perfluoromethyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, a perfluorohexyl group, a perfluoroheptyl group, and a perfluorooctyl group. Examples of perfluorocycloalkyl groups include a perfluorocyclohexyl group.
When R ^a42 is a saturated hydrocarbon group having a group represented by formula (a-g3), the total number of carbon atoms in R ^a42 , including the number of carbon atoms contained in the group represented by formula (a-g3), is preferably 15 or less, and more preferably 12 or less. When R a42 has a group represented by formula (a-g3) as a substituent, the number thereof is preferably 1.

［式（ａ－ｇ２）中、
Ａ^a46は、ハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～１７の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｘ^a44は、＊＊－Ｏ－ＣＯ－又は＊＊－ＣＯ－Ｏ－を表す（＊＊はＡ^a46との結合位を表す。）。
Ａ^a47は、ハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～１７の脂肪族炭化水素基を表す。
ただし、Ａ^a46、Ａ^a47及びＸ^a44の炭素数の合計は１８以下であり、Ａ^a46及びＡ^a47のうち、少なくとも一方は、少なくとも１つのハロゲン原子を有する。
＊はカルボニル基との結合位を表す。］ When R ^a42 is a saturated hydrocarbon group having a group represented by formula (a-g3), R ^a42 is more preferably a group represented by formula (a-g2).

[In formula (a-g2),
A ^a46 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
X ^a44 represents **--O--CO-- or **--CO--O-- (** represents the bonding position with A ^a46 ).
A ^a47 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of A ^a46 , A ^a47 and X ^a44 is 18 or less, and at least one of A ^a46 and A ^a47 has at least one halogen atom.
* indicates the bond position with the carbonyl group.

The saturated hydrocarbon group of A ^a46 preferably has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and more preferably has 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
The aliphatic hydrocarbon group of A ^a47 preferably has 4 to 15 carbon atoms, more preferably 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and A ^a47 is even more preferably a cyclohexyl group or an adamantyl group.

A preferred structure of the group represented by formula (a-g2) is the following structure (* indicates the bonding position with the carbonyl group).

Examples of the alkanediyl group in A ^a41 include linear alkanediyl groups such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a pentane-1,5-diyl group, and a hexane-1,6-diyl group; and branched alkanediyl groups such as a propane-1,2-diyl group, a butane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, a 1-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group, and a 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group.
Examples of the substituent in the alkanediyl group represented by A ^a41 include a hydroxy group and an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
A ^a41 is preferably an alkanediyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkanediyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and even more preferably an ethylene group.

Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by A ^a42 , A ^a43 and A ^a44 in the group represented by formula (a-g1) include a linear or branched alkanediyl group, a monocyclic or polycyclic divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group, and a group formed by combining an alkanediyl group and a divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group, etc. Specific examples include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a propane-1,2-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a 1-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, etc.
Examples of the substituent of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by A ^a42 , A ^a43 and A ^a44 include a hydroxy group and an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
It is preferred that s is 0.

In the group represented by formula (a-g1), examples of the group in which X ^a42 is -O-, -CO-, -CO-O- or -O-CO- include the following groups. In the following examples, * and ** each represent a bonding position, and ** is the bonding position with -O-CO-R ^a42 .

Examples of the structural unit represented by formula (a4-1) include the structural units shown below and structural units in which a methyl group corresponding to R ^a41 in the structural unit represented by formula (a4-1) in the following structural units is replaced with a hydrogen atom.

［式（ａ４－２）中、
Ｒ^f5は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｌ⁴⁴は、炭素数１～６のアルカンジイル基を表し、該アルカンジイル基に含まれる－ＣＨ₂－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。
Ｒ^f6は、炭素数１～２０のフッ素原子を有する飽和炭化水素基を表す。
ただし、Ｌ⁴⁴及びＲ^f6の合計炭素数の上限は２１である。］ The structural unit represented by formula (a4-1) is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (a4-2).

[In formula (a4-2),
R ^f5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
L ⁴⁴ represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the alkanediyl group may be replaced by --O-- or --CO--.
R ^f6 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom.
However, the upper limit of the total number of carbon atoms of ^L44 and ^Rf6 is 21.

Examples of the alkanediyl group of L ⁴⁴ include the same groups as those exemplified for A ^a41 .
Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon group of R ^f6 include the same groups as those exemplified for R ^a42 .
The alkanediyl group in L ⁴⁴ is preferably an alkanediyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably an ethylene group.

Examples of the structural unit represented by formula (a4-2) include structural units represented by formulas (a4-1-1) to (a4-1-11). The structural unit represented by formula (a4-2) also includes a structural unit in which a methyl group corresponding to ^Rf5 in the structural unit (a4-2) is replaced with a hydrogen atom.

［式（ａ４－３）中、
Ｒ^f7は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｌ⁵は、炭素数１～６のアルカンジイル基を表す。
Ａ^f13は、フッ素原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｘ^f12は、＊－Ｏ－ＣＯ－又は＊－ＣＯ－Ｏ－（＊はＡ^f13との結合位を表す。）を表す。
Ａ^f14は、フッ素原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～１７の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
但し、Ａ^f13及びＡ^f14の少なくとも１つは、フッ素原子を有し、Ｌ⁵、Ａ^f13及びＡ^f14の合計炭素数の上限は２０である。］

[In formula (a4-3),
R ^f7 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
^L5 represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
A ^f13 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may have a fluorine atom.
X ^f12 represents *--O--CO-- or *--CO--O-- (* represents the bonding position to A ^f13 ).
A ^f14 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms which may have a fluorine atom.
However, at least one of A ^f13 and A ^f14 has a fluorine atom, and the upper limit of the total number of carbon atoms of L ⁵ , A ^f13 and A ^f14 is 20.]

Examples of the alkanediyl group for ^L5 include the same groups as those exemplified as the alkanediyl group for ^Aa41 .
The divalent saturated hydrocarbon group optionally having a fluorine atom for A ^f13 is preferably a divalent chain saturated hydrocarbon group optionally having a fluorine atom and a divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group optionally having a fluorine atom, and more preferably a perfluoroalkanediyl group.
Examples of the divalent chain hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom include alkanediyl groups such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propanediyl group, a butanediyl group, and a pentanediyl group; and perfluoroalkanediyl groups such as a difluoromethylene group, a perfluoroethylene group, a perfluoropropanediyl group, a perfluorobutanediyl group, and a perfluoropentanediyl group.
The divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom may be either monocyclic or polycyclic. Examples of the monocyclic group include a cyclohexanediyl group and a perfluorocyclohexanediyl group. Examples of the polycyclic group include an adamantanediyl group, a norbornanediyl group, and a perfluoroadamantanediyl group.

Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon group and the saturated hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom of A ^f14 include the same groups as those exemplified for R ^a42 . Among them, a trifluoromethyl group, a difluoromethyl group, a methyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl group, an ethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl group, a propyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutyl group, a butyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl group, a pentyl group, Preferred are fluorinated alkyl groups such as a hexyl group, a perfluorohexyl group, a heptyl group, a perfluoroheptyl group, an octyl group, and a perfluorooctyl group, a cyclopropylmethyl group, a cyclopropyl group, a cyclobutylmethyl group, a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a perfluorocyclohexyl group, an adamantyl group, an adamantylmethyl group, an adamantyldimethyl group, a norbornyl group, a norbornylmethyl group, a perfluoroadamantyl group, and a perfluoroadamantylmethyl group.

In formula (a4-3), L ⁵ is preferably an ethylene group.
The divalent saturated hydrocarbon group for A ^f13 is preferably a group containing a divalent chain hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably a divalent chain hydrocarbon group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms.
The saturated hydrocarbon group of A ^f14 is preferably a group containing a chain hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably a group containing a chain hydrocarbon group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms. Among these, A ^f14 is preferably a group containing an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably a cyclopropylmethyl group, a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a norbornyl group, or an adamantyl group.

Examples of the structural unit represented by formula (a4-3) include structural units represented by formulas (a4-1'-1) to (a4-1'-11). The structural unit represented by formula (a4-3) also includes a structural unit in which the methyl group corresponding to ^Rf7 in the structural unit (a4-3) is replaced with a hydrogen atom.

［式（ａ４－４）中、
Ｒ^f21は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ａ^f21は、－（ＣＨ₂）_j1－、－（ＣＨ₂）_j2－Ｏ－（ＣＨ₂）_j3－又は－（ＣＨ₂）_j4－ＣＯ－Ｏ－（ＣＨ₂）_j5－を表す。
ｊ１～ｊ５は、それぞれ独立に、１～６のいずれかの整数を表す。
Ｒ^f22は、フッ素原子を有する炭素数１～１０の飽和炭化水素基を表す。］ The structural unit (a4) also includes a structural unit represented by formula (a4-4).

[In formula (a4-4),
R ^f21 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
A ^f21 represents --(CH ₂ ) _j1 --, --(CH ₂ ) _j2 --O--(CH ₂ ) _j3 -- or --(CH ₂ ) _j4 --CO--O--(CH ₂ ) _j5 --.
j1 to j5 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 6.
R ^f22 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom.]

Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon group of R ^f22 include the same as the saturated hydrocarbon group represented by R ^a42 . R ^f22 is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom, or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom, and even more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and containing a fluorine atom.
In formula (a4-4), A ^f21 is preferably --(CH ₂ ) _j1 --, more preferably an ethylene group or a methylene group, and even more preferably a methylene group.

樹脂（Ａ）が、構造単位（ａ４）を有する場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、１～２０モル％が好ましく、２～１５モル％がより好ましく、３～１０モル％がさらに好ましい。 Examples of the structural unit represented by formula (a4-4) include the following structural units and structural units represented by the following formula in which a methyl group corresponding to R ^f21 in the structural unit (a4-4) is replaced with a hydrogen atom.

When the resin (A) has the structural unit (a4), the content thereof is preferably from 1 to 20 mol %, more preferably from 2 to 15 mol %, and even more preferably from 3 to 10 mol %, based on all structural units in the resin (A).

［式（ａ５－１）中、
Ｒ⁵¹は、水素原子又はメチル基を表す。
Ｒ⁵²は、炭素数３～１８の脂環式炭化水素基を表し、該脂環式炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は炭素数１～８の脂肪族炭化水素基で置換されていてもよい。
Ｌ⁵⁵は、単結合又は炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよい。］ <Structural unit (a5)>
The non-leaving hydrocarbon group contained in the structural unit (a5) may be a group having a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon group. Among these, the structural unit (a5) is preferably a group having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group.
An example of the structural unit (a5) is a structural unit represented by formula (a5-1).

[In formula (a5-1),
^R51 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ⁵² represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ⁵⁵ represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced with --O-- or --CO--.]

The alicyclic hydrocarbon group in ^R52 may be either monocyclic or polycyclic. Examples of the monocyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include a cyclopropyl group, a cyclobutyl group, a cyclopentyl group, and a cyclohexyl group. Examples of the polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon group include an adamantyl group, a norbornyl group, and the like.
Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
An example of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group having a substituent is a 3-methyladamantyl group.
R ⁵² is preferably an unsubstituted alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and more preferably an adamantyl group, a norbornyl group or a cyclohexyl group.

The divalent saturated hydrocarbon group for L ⁵⁵ includes a divalent chain saturated hydrocarbon group and a divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, and is preferably a divalent chain saturated hydrocarbon group.
Examples of the divalent chain saturated hydrocarbon group include alkanediyl groups such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propanediyl group, a butanediyl group, and a pentanediyl group.
The divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group may be either monocyclic or polycyclic. Examples of the monocyclic alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group include cycloalkanediyl groups such as cyclopentanediyl and cyclohexanediyl. Examples of the polycyclic divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group include adamantanediyl and norbornanediyl.

式（Ｌ１－１）中、
Ｘ^x1は、＊－Ｏ－ＣＯ－又は＊－ＣＯ－Ｏ－を表す（＊はＬ^x１との結合位を表す。）。
Ｌ^x1は、炭素数１～１６の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^x2は、単結合又は炭素数１～１５の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
ただし、Ｌ^x1及びＬ^x2の合計炭素数は、１６以下である。
式（Ｌ１－２）中、
Ｌ^x3は、炭素数１～１７の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^x4は、単結合又は炭素数１～１６の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
ただし、Ｌ^x3及びＬ^x4の合計炭素数は、１７以下である。
式（Ｌ１－３）中、
Ｌ^x5は、炭素数１～１５の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｌ^x6及びＬ^x7は、それぞれ独立に、単結合又は炭素数１～１４の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
ただし、Ｌ^x5、Ｌ^x6及びＬ^x7の合計炭素数は、１５以下である。
式（Ｌ１－４）中、
Ｌ^x8及びＬ^x9は、単結合又は炭素数１～１２の２価の脂肪族飽和炭化水素基を表す。
Ｗ^x1は、炭素数３～１５の２価の脂環式飽和炭化水素基を表す。
ただし、Ｌ^x8、Ｌ^x9及びＷ^x1の合計炭素数は、１５以下である。 Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by L ⁵⁵ in which --CH ₂ -- is replaced by --O-- or --CO-- include groups represented by formulae (L1-1) to (L1-4). In the following formulae, * and ** represent bonding positions, and * represents the bonding position with an oxygen atom.

In formula (L1-1),
X ^x1 represents *--O--CO-- or *--CO--O-- (* represents the bonding position with L ^x1 ).
L ^x1 represents a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.
L ^x2 represents a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^x1 and L ^x2 is 16 or less.
In formula (L1-2),
L ^x3 represents a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms.
L ^x4 represents a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^x3 and L ^x4 is 17 or less.
In formula (L1-3),
L ^x5 represents a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms.
L ^x6 and L ^x7 each independently represent a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^x5 , L ^x6 and L ^x7 is 15 or less.
In formula (L1-4),
L ^x8 and L ^x9 each represent a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
W ^x1 represents a divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms.
However, the total number of carbon atoms of L ^x8 , L ^x9 and W ^x1 is 15 or less.

L ^x1 is preferably a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, more preferably a methylene group or an ethylene group.
L ^x2 is preferably a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, more preferably a single bond.
L ^x3 is preferably a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^x4 is preferably a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^x5 is preferably a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, more preferably a methylene group or an ethylene group.
L ^x6 is preferably a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, more preferably a methylene group or an ethylene group.
L ^x7 is preferably a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
L ^x8 is preferably a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, more preferably a single bond or a methylene group.
L ^x9 is preferably a single bond or a divalent aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, more preferably a single bond or a methylene group.
W ^x1 is preferably a divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably a cyclohexanediyl group or an adamantanediyl group.

Examples of the group represented by formula (L1-1) include the divalent groups shown below.

Examples of the group represented by formula (L1-2) include the divalent groups shown below.

Examples of the group represented by formula (L1-3) include the divalent groups shown below.

Ｌ⁵⁵は、好ましくは、単結合又は式（Ｌ１－１）で表される基である。 Examples of the group represented by formula (L1-4) include the divalent groups shown below.

L ⁵⁵ is preferably a single bond or a group represented by the formula (L1-1).

樹脂（Ａ）が、構造単位（ａ５）を有する場合、その含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、１～３０モル％が好ましく、２～２０モル％がより好ましく、３～１５モル％がさらに好ましい。 Examples of the structural unit (a5-1) include the structural units shown below and structural units in which a methyl group corresponding to R ⁵¹ in the structural unit (a5-1) shown below has been replaced with a hydrogen atom.

When the resin (A) has the structural unit (a5), the content thereof is preferably from 1 to 30 mol %, more preferably from 2 to 20 mol %, and even more preferably from 3 to 15 mol %, based on all structural units in the resin (A).

<Structural Unit (II)>
Resin (A) may further contain a structural unit that decomposes upon exposure to generate an acid (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "structural unit (II)"). Specific examples of the structural unit (II) include the structural units described in JP-A-2016-79235, and are preferably a structural unit having a sulfonate group or carboxylate group and an organic cation in a side chain, or a structural unit having a sulfonio group and an organic anion in a side chain.

［式（ＩＩ－２－Ａ’）中、
Ｘ^ＩＩＩ３は、炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、ハロゲン原子、ハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基又はヒドロキシ基で置き換わっていてもよい。
Ａ^ｘ１は、炭素数１～８のアルカンジイル基を表し、該アルカンジイル基に含まれる水素原子は、フッ素原子又は炭素数１～６のペルフルオロアルキル基で置換されていてもよい。
ＲＡ^－は、スルホナート基又はカルボキシレート基を表す。
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ３は、水素原子、ハロゲン原子又はハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
ＺＡ^＋は、有機カチオンを表す。］ The structural unit having a sulfonate group or carboxylate group and an organic cation in the side chain is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A').

[In formula (II-2-A′),
^XIII3 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, in which -CH ₂ - contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S- or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom, or a hydroxy group.
A ^x1 represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom contained in the alkanediyl group may be substituted by a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
^RA- represents a sulfonate group or a carboxylate group.
R ^III3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
ZA ⁺ represents an organic cation.

Examples of the halogen atom represented by R ^III3 include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom and which is represented by R ^III3 include the same as the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom and which is represented by R ^a8 .
Examples of the alkanediyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms represented by A ^x1 include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a pentane-1,5-diyl group, a hexane-1,6-diyl group, an ethane-1,1-diyl group, a propane-1,1-diyl group, a propane-1,2-diyl group, a propane-2,2-diyl group, a pentane-2,4-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl group, a 2-methylpropane-1,2-diyl group, a pentane-1,4-diyl group, and a 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group.
Examples of the perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may be substituted by A ^x1 include a trifluoromethyl group, a perfluoroethyl group, a perfluoropropyl group, a perfluoroisopropyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a perfluorosec-butyl group, a perfluorotert-butyl group, a perfluoropentyl group, and a perfluorohexyl group.
Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms represented by ^XIII3 include linear or branched alkanediyl groups, and monocyclic or polycyclic divalent alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups, and may be combinations of these.
Specific examples of the alkyl group include linear alkanediyl groups such as methylene, ethylene, propane-1,3-diyl, propane-1,2-diyl, butane-1,4-diyl, pentane-1,5-diyl, hexane-1,6-diyl, heptane-1,7-diyl, octane-1,8-diyl, nonane-1,9-diyl, decane-1,10-diyl, undecane-1,11-diyl, and dodecane-1,12-diyl; butane-1,3-diyl, 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl, and 2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl. Examples of the divalent alkyl group include branched alkanediyl groups such as pan-1,2-diyl group, pentane-1,4-diyl group, and 2-methylbutane-1,4-diyl group; cycloalkanediyl groups such as cyclobutane-1,3-diyl group, cyclopentane-1,3-diyl group, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group, and cyclooctane-1,5-diyl group; and divalent polycyclic alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups such as norbornane-1,4-diyl group, norbornane-2,5-diyl group, adamantane-1,5-diyl group, and adamantane-2,6-diyl group.
Examples of saturated hydrocarbon groups in which -CH ₂ - is replaced by -O-, -S- or -CO- include divalent groups represented by formulae (X1) to (X53), where the number of carbon atoms before -CH ₂ - in the saturated hydrocarbon group is replaced by -O-, -S- or -CO- is 17 or less. In the following formulae, * and ** represent bonding positions, and * represents bonding position with A ^x1 .

^X3 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.
^X4 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms.
^X5 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms.
^X6 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms.
^X7 represents a trivalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms.
^X8 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms.

In formula (II-2-A'), ZA ⁺ can be the same as the cation Z1 ⁺ in the acid generator (B1).

［式（ＩＩ－２－Ａ）中、
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ３、Ｘ^ＩＩＩ３及びＺＡ^＋は、上記と同じ意味を表す。
ｚ２Ａは、０～６のいずれかの整数を表す。
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ２及びＲ^ＩＩＩ４は、それぞれ独立して、水素原子、フッ素原子又は炭素数１～６のペルフルオロアルキル基を表し、ｚ２Ａが２以上のとき、複数のＲ^ＩＩＩ２及びＲ^ＩＩＩ４は互いに同一であってもよいし、異なっていてもよい。
Ｑ^ａ及びＱ^ｂは、それぞれ独立して、フッ素原子又は炭素数１～６のペルフルオロアルキル基を表す。］
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ２、Ｒ^ＩＩＩ４、Ｑ^ａ及びＱ^ｂで表される炭素数１～６のペルフルオロアルキル基としては、前述のＱ^ｂ１で表される炭素数１～６のペルフルオロアルキル基と同じものが挙げられる。 The structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A') is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A).

[In formula (II-2-A),
R ^III3 , X ^III3 and ZA ⁺ have the same meanings as above.
z2A represents an integer of 0 to 6.
R ^III2 and R ^III4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and when z2A is 2 or greater, a plurality of R ^III2's and R ^III4 's may be the same or different.
Q ^a and Q ^b each independently represent a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.]
Examples of the perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms represented by R ^III2 , R ^III4 , Q ^a and Q ^b include the same perfluoroalkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms represented by Q ^b1 described above.

［式（ＩＩ－２－Ａ－１）中、
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ２、Ｒ^ＩＩＩ３、Ｒ^ＩＩＩ４、Ｑ^a、Ｑ^b及びＺＡ^＋は、上記と同じ意味を表す。
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ５は、炭素数１～１２の飽和炭化水素基を表す。
ｚ２Ａ１は、０～６のいずれかの整数を表す。
Ｘ^Ｉ2は、炭素数１～１１の２価の飽和炭化水素基を表し、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－又は－ＣＯ－に置き換わっていてもよく、該飽和炭化水素基に含まれる水素原子は、ハロゲン原子又はヒドロキシ基で置換されていてもよい。］
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ５で表される炭素数１～１２の飽和炭化水素基としては、メチル基、エチル基、プロピル基、イソプロピル基、ブチル基、ｓｅｃ－ブチル基、ｔｅｒｔ－ブチル基、ペンチル基、ヘキシル基、ヘプチル基、オクチル基、ノニル基、デシル基、ウンデシル基及びドデシル基等の直鎖又は分岐のアルキル基が挙げられる。
Ｘ^Ｉ２で表される２価の飽和炭化水素基としては、Ｘ^ＩＩＩ３で表される２価の飽和炭化水素基と同様のものが挙げられる。 The structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A) is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A-1).

[In formula (II-2-A-1),
R ^III2 , R ^III3 , R ^III4 , Q ^a , Q ^b and ZA ⁺ have the same meanings as above.
R ^III5 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
z2A1 represents an integer of 0 to 6.
X ^I2 represents a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms, -CH ₂ - contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O-, -S- or -CO-, and a hydrogen atom contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by a halogen atom or a hydroxyl group.]
Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms represented by R ^III5 include linear or branched alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a nonyl group, a decyl group, an undecyl group, and a dodecyl group.
Examples of the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by X ^I2 include the same as the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group represented by X ^III3 .

［式（ＩＩ－２－Ａ－２）中、
Ｒ^ＩＩＩ３、Ｒ^ＩＩＩ５及びＺＡ^＋は、上記と同じ意味を表す。
ｍＡ及びｎＡは、それぞれ独立に、１又は２を表す。］ The structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A-1) is more preferably a structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A-2).

[In formula (II-2-A-2),
R ^III3 , R ^III5 and ZA ⁺ have the same meanings as above.
mA and nA each independently represent 1 or 2.

Examples of the structural unit represented by formula (II-2-A') include the following structural units, structural units in which the group corresponding to the methyl group of R ^III3 is replaced with a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom (e.g., a fluorine atom) or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom (e.g., a trifluoromethyl group), and structural units described in WO 2012/050015. ZA ⁺ represents an organic cation.

［式（ＩＩ－１－１）中、
Ａ^ＩＩ１は、単結合又は２価の連結基を表す。
Ｒ^ＩＩ１は、炭素数６～１８の２価の芳香族炭化水素基を表す。
Ｒ^ＩＩ２及びＲ^ＩＩ３は、それぞれ独立して、炭素数１～１８の炭化水素基を表し、Ｒ^ＩＩ２及びＲ^ＩＩ３は互いに結合してそれらが結合する硫黄原子とともに環を形成していてもよい。
Ｒ^II4は、水素原子、ハロゲン原子又はハロゲン原子を有してもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基を表す。
Ａ^－は、有機アニオンを表す。］
Ｒ^ＩＩ１で表される炭素数６～１８の２価の芳香族炭化水素基としては、フェニレン基及びナフチレン基等が挙げられる。
Ｒ^ＩＩ２及びＲ^ＩＩ３で表される炭化水素基としては、アルキル基、脂環式炭化水素基、芳香族炭化水素基及びこれらを組み合わせることにより形成される基等が挙げられる。
Ｒ^ＩＩ４で表されるハロゲン原子としては、フッ素原子、塩素原子、臭素原子及びヨウ素原子等が挙げられる。
Ｒ^ＩＩ４で表されるハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基としては、Ｒ^ａ８で表されるハロゲン原子を有していてもよい炭素数１～６のアルキル基と同じものが挙げられる。
Ａ^ＩＩ１で表される２価の連結基としては、例えば、炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基が挙げられ、該２価の飽和炭化水素基に含まれる－ＣＨ_２－は、－Ｏ－、－Ｓ－又は－ＣＯ－で置き換わっていてもよい。具体的には、Ｘ^ＩＩＩ３で表される炭素数１～１８の２価の飽和炭化水素基と同じものが挙げられる。 The structural unit having a sulfonio group and an organic anion on the side chain is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (II-1-1).

[In formula (II-1-1),
A ^II1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group.
R ^II1 represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms.
R ^II2 and R ^II3 each independently represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and R ^II2 and R ^II3 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded.
R ^II4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
A ⁻ represents an organic anion.
Examples of the divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms represented by R ^II1 include a phenylene group and a naphthylene group.
Examples of the hydrocarbon group represented by R ^II2 and R ^II3 include an alkyl group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, and a group formed by combining these groups.
Examples of the halogen atom represented by ^RII4 include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom and which is represented by R ^II4 include the same as the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom and which is represented by R ^a8 .
Examples of the divalent linking group represented by A ^II1 include a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, in which -CH ₂ - may be replaced by -O-, -S- or -CO-. Specific examples include the same as the divalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms represented by X ^III3 .

Examples of the structural unit containing a cation in formula (II-1-1) include structural units represented by the following formulas and structural units in which the group corresponding to the methyl group in R ^II4 is replaced with a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, or the like.

Examples of the organic anion represented by ^A- include a sulfonate anion, a sulfonylimide anion, a sulfonylmethide anion, a carboxylate anion, etc. The organic anion represented by ^A- is preferably a sulfonate anion, and the sulfonate anion is more preferably an anion contained in the salt represented by the above formula (B1).

Examples of the sulfonylimide anion represented by A ¹ - include the following.

Examples of sulfonylmethide anions include the following:

Examples of carboxylate anions include the following:

樹脂（Ａ）中に、構造単位（ＩＩ）を含有する場合の構造単位（ＩＩ）の含有率は、樹脂（Ａ）の全構造単位に対して、好ましくは１～２０モル％であり、より好ましくは２～１５モル％であり、さらに好ましくは３～１０モル％である。 Examples of the structural unit represented by formula (II-1-1) include structural units represented below.

When the resin (A) contains the structural unit (II), the content of the structural unit (II) is preferably 1 to 20 mol %, more preferably 2 to 15 mol %, and even more preferably 3 to 10 mol %, based on the total structural units of the resin (A).

Resin (A) may have structural units other than the above-mentioned structural units, and examples of such structural units include structural units well known in the art.

The resin (A) is preferably a resin composed of the structural unit (a1) and the structural unit (s).
The structural unit (a1) is preferably at least one type selected from the group consisting of the structural unit (a1-0), the structural unit (a1-1) and the structural unit (a1-2) (preferably the structural unit having a cyclohexyl group or a cyclopentyl group), and more preferably at least two types.
The structural unit (s) is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of the structural unit (a2) and the structural unit (a3). The structural unit (a2) is preferably a structural unit represented by formula (a2-A) or a structural unit represented by formula (a2-1). The structural unit (a3) is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of a structural unit represented by formula (a3-1), a structural unit represented by formula (a3-2), and a structural unit represented by formula (a3-4).

Each structural unit constituting the resin (A) may be used alone or in combination of two or more, and can be produced by a known polymerization method (e.g., radical polymerization method) using a monomer that derives these structural units. The content of each structural unit in the resin (A) can be adjusted by the amount of the monomer used in the polymerization.
The weight average molecular weight of the resin (A) is preferably 2,000 or more (more preferably 2,500 or more, even more preferably 3,000 or more) and 50,000 or less (more preferably 30,000 or less, even more preferably 15,000 or less). In this specification, the weight average molecular weight is a value determined by gel permeation chromatography under the conditions described in the Examples.

<Resins other than resin (A)>
The resist composition of the present invention may contain a resin other than the resin (A) in combination.
Examples of resins other than resin (A) include resins containing the structural unit (a4) or the structural unit (a5) (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as resin (X)).
As the resin (X), a resin containing the structural unit (a4) is particularly preferred.
In the resin (X), the content of the structural unit (a4) is preferably 30 mol % or more, more preferably 40 mol % or more, and even more preferably 45 mol % or more, based on the total amount of all structural units in the resin (X).
Examples of structural units that the resin (X) may further have include the structural unit (a2), the structural unit (a3), and structural units derived from other known monomers. Among these, the resin (X) is preferably a resin consisting only of the structural unit (a4) and/or the structural unit (a5), and more preferably a resin consisting only of the structural unit (a4).
Each structural unit constituting the resin (X) may be used alone or in combination of two or more, and can be produced by a known polymerization method (e.g., radical polymerization method) using a monomer that derives these structural units. The content of each structural unit in the resin (X) can be adjusted by the amount of the monomer used in the polymerization.
The weight average molecular weight of the resin (X) is preferably 6,000 or more (more preferably 7,000 or more) and 80,000 or less (more preferably 60,000 or less). The method for measuring the weight average molecular weight of the resin (X) is the same as that for the resin (A).
Furthermore, when the resist composition contains resin (X), the content thereof is preferably 1 to 60 parts by mass, more preferably 1 to 50 parts by mass, even more preferably 1 to 40 parts by mass, particularly preferably 1 to 30 parts by mass, and particularly preferably 1 to 8 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of resin (A).

The content of resin (A) in the resist composition is preferably 80% by mass or more and 99% by mass or less, and more preferably 90% by mass or more and 99% by mass or less, based on the solid content of the resist composition. In addition, when a resin other than resin (A) is contained, the total content of resin (A) and the resin other than resin (A) is preferably 80% by mass or more and 99% by mass or less, and more preferably 90% by mass or more and 99% by mass or less, based on the solid content of the resist composition. The solid content of the resist composition and the resin content therein can be measured by known analytical means such as liquid chromatography or gas chromatography.

<Solvent (E)>
The content of the solvent (E) in the resist composition is usually from 90% by mass to 99.9% by mass, preferably from 92% by mass to 99% by mass, and more preferably from 94% by mass to 99% by mass. The content of the solvent (E) can be measured by a known analytical method such as liquid chromatography or gas chromatography.
Examples of the solvent (E) include glycol ether esters such as ethyl cellosolve acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; glycol ethers such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether; esters such as ethyl lactate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate, and ethyl pyruvate; ketones such as acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-heptanone, and cyclohexanone; cyclic esters such as γ-butyrolactone; etc. One type of solvent (E) may be used alone, or two or more types may be used.

<Quencher (C)>
The quencher (C) can be a basic nitrogen-containing organic compound or a salt that generates an acid having a weaker acidity than the acid generated from the acid generator (B) (excluding the carboxylate represented by formula (I)). When the resist composition contains the quencher (C), the content of the quencher (C) is preferably about 0.01 to 15 mass %, and more preferably about 0.1 to 10 mass %, based on the solids content of the resist composition.
The basic nitrogen-containing organic compound includes amines and ammonium salts. The amines include aliphatic amines and aromatic amines. The aliphatic amines include primary amines, secondary amines, and tertiary amines.
Examples of amines include 1-naphthylamine, 2-naphthylamine, aniline, diisopropylaniline, 2-, 3- or 4-methylaniline, 4-nitroaniline, N-methylaniline, N,N-dimethylaniline, diphenylamine, hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine, dibutylamine, dipentylamine, dihexylamine, diheptylamine, dioctylamine, dinonylamine, didecylamine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, Amines, tripentylamine, trihexylamine, triheptylamine, trioctylamine, trinonylamine, tridecylamine, methyldibutylamine, methyldipentylamine, methyldihexylamine, methyldicyclohexylamine, methyldiheptylamine, methyldioctylamine, methyldinonylamine, methyldidecylamine, ethyldibutylamine, ethyldipentylamine, ethyldihexylamine, ethyldiheptylamine, ethyldioctylamine, ethyldinonylamine, ethyldidecylamine amine, dicyclohexylmethylamine, tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine, triisopropanolamine, ethylenediamine, tetramethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, 4,4'-diamino-1,2-diphenylethane, 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane, 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-diethyldiphenylmethane, 2,2'-methylenebisaniline, imidazole, 4-methylimidazole, pyridine, 4-methylpyridine, 1,2-di(2-pyridyl)ethane Examples of the amines include 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethane, 1,2-di(2-pyridyl)ethene, 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethene, 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane, 1,2-di(4-pyridyloxy)ethane, di(2-pyridyl)ketone, 4,4'-dipyridyl sulfide, 4,4'-dipyridyl disulfide, 2,2'-dipyridylamine, 2,2'-dipicolylamine, and bipyridine. Preferred are aromatic amines such as diisopropylaniline, and more preferred are 2,6-diisopropylaniline.
Examples of the ammonium salt include tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraisopropylammonium hydroxide, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, tetrahexylammonium hydroxide, tetraoctylammonium hydroxide, phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, tetra-n-butylammonium salicylate, and choline.

The acidity of a salt that generates an acid weaker than the acid generated from the acid generator (B) is indicated by the acid dissociation constant (pKa). A salt that generates an acid weaker than the acid generated from the acid generator (B) is a salt whose acid dissociation constant of the acid generated from the salt is usually -3<pKa, preferably -1<pKa<7, and more preferably 0<pKa<5.
Examples of the salt that generates an acid having a weaker acidity than the acid generated from the acid generator (B) include the salt represented by the following formula, the salt represented by formula (D) described in JP-A-2015-147926 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "weak acid inner salt (D)"), and the salts described in JP-A-2012-229206, JP-A-2012-6908, JP-A-2012-72109, JP-A-2011-39502, and JP-A-2011-191745. The salt that generates an acid having a weaker acidity than the acid generated from the acid generator (B) is preferably a salt (salt having a carboxylate anion) that generates a carboxylic acid having a weaker acidity than the acid generated from the acid generator (B), and more preferably a weak acid inner salt (D).

Examples of the weak acid inner salt (D) include the following salts.

<Other Ingredients>
The resist composition of the present invention may contain components other than the above-mentioned components (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "other components (F)") as necessary. There are no particular limitations on the other components (F), and additives known in the resist field, such as sensitizers, dissolution inhibitors, surfactants, stabilizers, dyes, etc., can be used.

Preparation of Resist Composition
The resist composition of the present invention can be prepared by mixing the carboxylate (I) and the resin (A), the acid generator (B), and, if necessary, a resin other than the resin (A), the solvent (E), the quencher (C), and other components (F). The order of mixing is arbitrary and is not particularly limited. The temperature during mixing can be appropriately selected from 10 to 40° C. depending on the type of resin, the solubility of the resin in the solvent (E), and the like. The mixing time can be appropriately selected from 0.5 to 24 hours depending on the mixing temperature. The mixing means is also not particularly limited, and stirring and mixing can be used.
After mixing the components, it is preferable to filter the mixture using a filter having a pore size of about 0.003 to 0.2 μm.

<Method for Producing Resist Pattern>
The method for producing a resist pattern of the present invention comprises the steps of:
(1) applying the resist composition of the present invention onto a substrate;
(2) A step of drying the applied composition to form a composition layer;
(3) exposing the composition layer to light;
(4) a step of heating the composition layer after exposure, and (5) a step of developing the composition layer after heating.
The resist composition can be applied onto a substrate by a commonly used device such as a spin coater. The substrate can be an inorganic substrate such as a silicon wafer. Before applying the resist composition, the substrate may be cleaned, and an anti-reflective film or the like may be formed on the substrate.
The composition after coating is dried to remove the solvent and form a composition layer. Drying is carried out, for example, by evaporating the solvent using a heating device such as a hot plate (so-called pre-baking), or by using a vacuum device. The heating temperature is preferably 50 to 200° C., and the heating time is preferably 10 to 180 seconds. The pressure during drying under reduced pressure is preferably about 1 to 1.0×10 ⁵ Pa.
The obtained composition layer is usually exposed using an exposure machine. The exposure machine may be an immersion exposure machine. As the exposure light source, various types can be used, such as those that emit ultraviolet laser light such as KrF excimer laser (wavelength 248 nm), ArF excimer laser (wavelength 193 nm), and _F2 excimer laser (wavelength 157 nm), those that convert the wavelength of laser light from a solid laser light source (YAG or semiconductor laser, etc.) to emit harmonic laser light in the far ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet range, and those that irradiate electron beams or extreme ultraviolet light (EUV). In this specification, irradiation with these radiations may be collectively referred to as "exposure". During exposure, exposure is usually performed through a mask corresponding to the desired pattern. When the exposure light source is an electron beam, exposure may be performed by direct drawing without using a mask.
The composition layer after exposure is subjected to a heat treatment (so-called post-exposure bake) in order to promote the deprotection reaction of the acid labile groups. The heating temperature is usually about 50 to 200°C, preferably about 70 to 150°C.
The heated composition layer is usually developed using a developing device and a developer. Examples of the developing method include a dip method, a paddle method, a spray method, and a dynamic dispense method. The developing temperature is preferably, for example, 5 to 60° C., and the developing time is preferably, for example, 5 to 300 seconds. By selecting the type of developer as follows, a positive resist pattern or a negative resist pattern can be produced.
When a positive resist pattern is produced from the resist composition of the present invention, an alkaline developer is used as the developer. The alkaline developer may be any of various alkaline aqueous solutions used in this field. Examples include aqueous solutions of tetramethylammonium hydroxide and (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide (commonly known as choline). The alkaline developer may contain a surfactant.
After development, the resist pattern is preferably washed with ultrapure water, and then water remaining on the substrate and the pattern is removed.
When producing a negative resist pattern from the resist composition of the present invention, a developer containing an organic solvent (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an "organic developer") is used as the developer.
Examples of the organic solvent contained in the organic developer include ketone solvents such as 2-hexanone and 2-heptanone; glycol ether ester solvents such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; ester solvents such as butyl acetate; glycol ether solvents such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether; amide solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide; and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as anisole.
The content of the organic solvent in the organic developer is preferably from 90% by mass to 100% by mass, more preferably from 95% by mass to 100% by mass, and further preferably consists essentially of the organic solvent.
Among them, the organic developer is preferably a developer containing butyl acetate and/or 2-heptanone. The total content of butyl acetate and 2-heptanone in the organic developer is preferably 50% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less, more preferably 90% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less, and even more preferably substantially only butyl acetate and/or 2-heptanone.
The organic developer may contain a surfactant and may contain a small amount of water.
During development, the development may be stopped by replacing the organic developer with a different type of solvent.
The resist pattern after development is preferably washed with a rinse solution. There are no particular limitations on the rinse solution as long as it does not dissolve the resist pattern, and a solution containing a general organic solvent can be used, preferably an alcohol solvent or an ester solvent.
After cleaning, it is preferable to remove any rinsing liquid remaining on the substrate and the pattern.

<Application>
The resist composition of the present invention is suitable as a resist composition for KrF excimer laser exposure, a resist composition for ArF excimer laser exposure, a resist composition for electron beam (EB) exposure, or a resist composition for EUV exposure, and is particularly suitable as a resist composition for electron beam (EB) exposure or a resist composition for EUV exposure, and is useful for semiconductor microfabrication.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. In the examples, "%" and "parts" expressing the content or amount used are based on mass unless otherwise specified.
The weight average molecular weight is a value determined by gel permeation chromatography under the following analytical conditions:
Column: TSKgel Multipore HXL-M x 3+guardcolumn (Tosoh Corporation)
Eluent: Tetrahydrofuran Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min
Detector: RI detector Column temperature: 40℃
Injection volume: 100 μl
Molecular weight standard: Standard polystyrene (Tosoh Corporation)
The structure of the compound was confirmed by measuring the molecular ion peak using mass spectrometry (LC: Agilent 1100 model, MASS: Agilent LC/MSD model). In the following examples, the value of this molecular ion peak is indicated by "MASS".

式（Ｉ－１６４－ａ）で表される化合物５．７５部及びオキソン（登録商標）６．４０部を混合し、２３℃で３０分間攪拌後、５℃まで冷却した。得られた混合物に、硫酸２３．５６部を添加した後、５℃で３０分間攪拌した。得られた混合物に、式（Ｉ－１６４－ｂ）で表される化合物４．１５部及びクロロホルム２０．７４部の混合溶液を添加し、５℃で３０分間攪拌後、さらに、２３℃で２時間攪拌した。得られた混合溶液を、メタノール１２０部に加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、ろ過した。得られたろ液を濃縮した後、濃縮残渣に、クロロホルム１２５部及びアセトニトリル２５部を添加し、２３℃で３０分間攪拌後、５％塩酸５０部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。得られた有機層にイオン交換水４０部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。この水洗操作を３回繰り返した。得られた有機層を濃縮し、濃縮混合物にｔｅｒｔ－ブチルメチルエーテル４５部を添加し、２３℃で３０分間攪拌後、ろ過することにより、式（Ｉ－１６４－ｃ）で表される塩１．９９部を得た。

式（Ｉ－１６４－ｄ）で表される塩０．６９部、式（Ｉ－１６４－ｃ）で表される塩１．２６部及びクロロホルム１０部を混合し、２３℃で１２時間攪拌した。得られた混合物に、５％シュウ酸水溶液５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。得られた有機層にイオン交換水５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。この水洗操作を５回繰り返した。得られた有機層を濃縮することにより、式（Ｉ－１６４）で表される塩１．４４部を得た。
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（＋）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^＋ ４４９．０
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（－）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^－ １９３．１ Example 1: Synthesis of salt represented by formula (I-164)

5.75 parts of the compound represented by formula (I-164-a) and 6.40 parts of Oxone (registered trademark) were mixed, stirred at 23 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then cooled to 5 ° C. 23.56 parts of sulfuric acid were added to the obtained mixture, and then stirred at 5 ° C. for 30 minutes. A mixed solution of 4.15 parts of the compound represented by formula (I-164-b) and 20.74 parts of chloroform was added to the obtained mixture, stirred at 5 ° C. for 30 minutes, and further stirred at 23 ° C. for 2 hours. The obtained mixed solution was added to 120 parts of methanol, stirred at 23 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then filtered. The obtained filtrate was concentrated, and then 125 parts of chloroform and 25 parts of acetonitrile were added to the concentrated residue, stirred at 23 ° C. for 30 minutes, added 50 parts of 5% hydrochloric acid, and stirred at 23 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then separated to take out the organic layer. 40 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the obtained organic layer, stirred at 23 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then separated to take out the organic layer. This water washing operation was repeated three times. The obtained organic layer was concentrated, and 45 parts of tert-butyl methyl ether was added to the concentrated mixture, which was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes and then filtered to obtain 1.99 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-164-c).

0.69 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-164-d), 1.26 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-164-c), and 10 parts of chloroform were mixed and stirred at 23° C. for 12 hours. 5 parts of a 5% aqueous oxalic acid solution was added to the obtained mixture, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. 5 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the obtained organic layer, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. This water washing operation was repeated five times. The obtained organic layer was concentrated to obtain 1.44 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-164).
MASS (ESI (+) Spectrum): M ⁺ 449.0
MASS (ESI (-) Spectrum): M ^- 193.1

ヨウ素酸カリウム１０部、式（Ｉ－３２６－ａ）で表される化合物１５．９９部、酢酸３０部及び無水酢酸１５部を混合し、２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、５℃まで冷却した。得られた混合物に、硫酸１０部を１０分かけて添加し、５℃で３時間攪拌した後、更に、２３℃で１２時間攪拌した。得られた混合液に、ｔｅｒｔ－ブチルメチルエーテル３０部及びイオン交換水３０部を添加し、２３℃で２時間攪拌した後、ろ過し、得られたろ液を分液して有機層を取り出した。得られた有機層に、臭化ナトリウム５部及びイオン交換水１５部の混合溶液を添加し、２３℃で２時間攪拌した後、ろ過することにより、式（Ｉ－３２６－ｂ）で表される塩２．８８部を得た。

式（Ｉ－１６４－ｄ）で表される塩０．６９部、式（Ｉ－３２６－ｂ）で表される塩１．５２部及びクロロホルム１０部を混合し、２３℃で１２時間攪拌した。得られた混合物に、５％シュウ酸水溶液５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。得られた有機層にイオン交換水５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。この水洗操作を５回繰り返した。得られた有機層を濃縮することにより、式（Ｉ－３２６）で表される塩１．６９部を得た。
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（＋）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^＋ ５０４．９
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（－）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^－ １９３．１ Example 2: Synthesis of salt represented by formula (I-326)

10 parts of potassium iodate, 15.99 parts of a compound represented by formula (I-326-a), 30 parts of acetic acid, and 15 parts of acetic anhydride were mixed, stirred at 23 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then cooled to 5 ° C. To the resulting mixture, 10 parts of sulfuric acid were added over 10 minutes, stirred at 5 ° C. for 3 hours, and then further stirred at 23 ° C. for 12 hours. To the resulting mixture, 30 parts of tert-butyl methyl ether and 30 parts of ion-exchanged water were added, stirred at 23 ° C. for 2 hours, filtered, and the obtained filtrate was separated to take out an organic layer. To the obtained organic layer, a mixed solution of 5 parts of sodium bromide and 15 parts of ion-exchanged water was added, stirred at 23 ° C. for 2 hours, and then filtered to obtain 2.88 parts of a salt represented by formula (I-326-b).

0.69 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-164-d), 1.52 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-326-b), and 10 parts of chloroform were mixed and stirred at 23° C. for 12 hours. 5 parts of a 5% aqueous oxalic acid solution was added to the obtained mixture, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. 5 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the obtained organic layer, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. This water washing operation was repeated five times. The obtained organic layer was concentrated to obtain 1.69 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-326).
MASS (ESI (+) Spectrum): M ⁺ 504.9
MASS (ESI (-) Spectrum): M ^- 193.1

式（Ｉ－１６６－ｄ）で表される塩１．０３部、式（Ｉ－１６４－ｃ）で表される塩１．２６部及びクロロホルム１０部を混合し、２３℃で１２時間攪拌した。得られた混合物に、５％シュウ酸水溶液５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。得られた有機層にイオン交換水５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。この水洗操作を５回繰り返した。得られた有機層を濃縮することにより、式（Ｉ－１６６）で表される塩１．２３部を得た。
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（＋）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^＋ ４４９．０
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（－）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^－ ３３７．１ Example 3: Synthesis of salt represented by formula (I-166)

1.03 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-166-d), 1.26 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-164-c), and 10 parts of chloroform were mixed and stirred at 23° C. for 12 hours. 5 parts of a 5% aqueous oxalic acid solution was added to the obtained mixture, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. 5 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the obtained organic layer, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. This water washing operation was repeated five times. The obtained organic layer was concentrated to obtain 1.23 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-166).
MASS (ESI (+) Spectrum): M ⁺ 449.0
MASS (ESI (-) Spectrum): M ^- 337.1

式（Ｉ－１６６－ｄ）で表される塩１．０３部、式（Ｉ－３２６－ｂ）で表される塩１．５２部及びクロロホルム１０部を混合し、２３℃で１２時間攪拌した。得られた混合物に、５％シュウ酸水溶液５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。得られた有機層にイオン交換水５部を加えて２３℃で３０分間攪拌した後、分液して有機層を取り出した。この水洗操作を５回繰り返した。得られた有機層を濃縮することにより、式（Ｉ－３２８）で表される塩１．４４部を得た。
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（＋）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^＋ ５０４．９
ＭＡＳＳ（ＥＳＩ（－）Ｓｐｅｃｔｒｕｍ）：Ｍ^－ ３３７．１ Example 4: Synthesis of salt represented by formula (I-328)

1.03 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-166-d), 1.52 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-326-b), and 10 parts of chloroform were mixed and stirred at 23° C. for 12 hours. 5 parts of a 5% aqueous oxalic acid solution was added to the obtained mixture, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. 5 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the obtained organic layer, and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 30 minutes, and then the organic layer was separated and taken out. This water washing operation was repeated five times. The obtained organic layer was concentrated to obtain 1.44 parts of the salt represented by formula (I-328).
MASS (ESI (+) Spectrum): M ⁺ 504.9
MASS (ESI (-) Spectrum): M ^- 337.1

Synthesis of Resin The compounds (monomers) used in the synthesis of Resin (A) are shown below. Hereinafter, these compounds will be referred to as "monomer (a1-1-3)" etc. according to their formula numbers.

Synthesis Example 1 [Synthesis of Resin A1]
Monomer (a1-4-2), monomer (a1-1-3) and monomer (a1-2-6) were used as monomers, and the molar ratio [monomer (a1-4-2):monomer (a1-1-3):monomer (a1-2-6)] was mixed to a ratio of 38:24:38, and further, 1.5 times by mass of methyl isobutyl ketone was mixed with this monomer mixture relative to the total mass of all monomers. Azobisisobutyronitrile was added as an initiator to the obtained mixture so that the total molar number of all monomers was 7 mol%, and this was heated at 85 ° C. for about 5 hours to perform polymerization. Thereafter, an aqueous p-toluenesulfonic acid solution was added to the polymerization reaction liquid, and the mixture was stirred for 6 hours, and then separated. The obtained organic layer was poured into a large amount of n-heptane to precipitate the resin, and the resin was filtered and collected to obtain a resin A1 (copolymer) having a weight average molecular weight of about 5.3 × 10 ³ in a yield of 78%. This resin A1 has the following structural units.

Synthesis Example 2 [Synthesis of Resin A2]
Monomer (a1-4-2) and monomer (a1-2-6) were used as monomers, and the molar ratio [monomer (a1-4-2):monomer (a1-2-6)] was mixed to a ratio of 38:62. Furthermore, 1.5 times the mass of methyl isobutyl ketone was mixed with this monomer mixture relative to the total mass of all monomers. Azobisisobutyronitrile was added as an initiator to the obtained mixture so that the total molar number of all monomers was 7 mol%, and the mixture was heated at 85 ° C. for about 5 hours to perform polymerization. Thereafter, an aqueous p-toluenesulfonic acid solution was added to the polymerization reaction liquid, and the mixture was stirred for 6 hours and then separated. The obtained organic layer was poured into a large amount of n-heptane to precipitate the resin, which was then filtered and collected to obtain a resin A2 (copolymer) having a weight average molecular weight of about 5.4 × 10 ³ in a yield of 89%. This resin A2 has the following structural units.

<Preparation of Resist Composition>
As shown in Table 2, the following components were mixed and the resulting mixture was filtered through a fluororesin filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm to prepare a resist composition.

＜カルボン酸塩（Ｉ）＞
Ｉ－１６４：式（Ｉ－１６４）で表される塩
Ｉ－１６６：式（Ｉ－１６６）で表される塩
Ｉ－３２６：式（Ｉ－３２６）で表される塩
Ｉ－３２８：式（Ｉ－３２８）で表される塩
＜クエンチャー（Ｃ）＞
ＩＸ－１：

ＩＸ－２：

ＩＸ－３：

ＩＸ－４：

ＩＸ－５：

＜溶剤＞
プロピレングリコールモノメチルエーテルアセテート ４００部
プロピレングリコールモノメチルエーテル １００部
γ－ブチロラクトン ５部 <Resin>
A1, A2: Resin A1, Resin A2
<Acid Generator (B)>
B1-25: Salt represented by formula (B1-25); synthesized by the method described in JP 2011-126869 A

<Carboxylic Acid Salt (I)>
I-164: A salt represented by the formula (I-164) I-166: A salt represented by the formula (I-166) I-326: A salt represented by the formula (I-326) I-328: A salt represented by the formula (I-328) <Quencher (C)>
IX-1:

IX-2:

IX-3:

IX-4:

IX-5:

<Solvent>
Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 400 parts Propylene glycol monomethyl ether 100 parts γ-butyrolactone 5 parts

(Electron Beam Exposure Evaluation of Resist Composition)
A 6-inch silicon wafer was treated with hexamethyldisilazane on a direct hot plate at 90° C. for 60 seconds. A resist composition was spin-coated onto this silicon wafer so that the film thickness of the composition layer became 0.04 μm. Then, the wafer was pre-baked on a direct hot plate at the temperature shown in the "PB" column of Table 2 for 60 seconds to form a composition layer. A line and space pattern was directly written onto the composition layer formed on the wafer using an electron beam lithography machine ("HL-800D 50 keV" manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) by changing the exposure dose stepwise.
After exposure, post-exposure baking was performed on a hot plate at the temperature shown in the "PEB" column of Table 2 for 60 seconds, and then paddle development was performed for 60 seconds using a 2.38 mass % aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution to obtain a resist pattern.
The obtained resist pattern (line and space pattern) was observed under a scanning electron microscope, and the exposure amount at which the line width and space width of a 60 nm line and space pattern became 1:1 was defined as the effective sensitivity.

Line edge roughness evaluation (LER): The amplitude of unevenness on the sidewall surface of the resist pattern produced at the effective sensitivity was measured using a scanning electron microscope to determine the line edge roughness. The results are shown in Table 3.

比較組成物１～５と比較して、組成物１～８は、ラインエッジラフネス（ＬＥＲ）が良好であった。

In comparison with the comparative compositions 1 to 5, the compositions 1 to 8 had good line edge roughness (LER).

The carboxylate of the present invention and the resist composition containing the carboxylate have good line edge roughness and are useful for semiconductor microfabrication.

Claims (8)

A carboxylate represented by formula (I):

[In formula (I),
R ¹ and R ² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a fluorine atom.
^R3 represents a fluorine atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a fluorine atom.
^R4 and ^R5 each independently represent a halogen atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and the _-CH2- contained in the fluorinated alkyl group and the alkyl group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-.
m4 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and when m4 is 2 or greater, the multiple R ^4s may be the same or different.
m5 represents an integer of 0 to 5, and when m5 is 2 or greater, the multiple R ^5s may be the same or different.
X ⁰ represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 72 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and --CH ₂ -- contained in the hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ --.] 2. The carboxylate according to claim 1, wherein X ⁰ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 72 carbon atoms which may have a substituent (provided that --CH ₂ -- contained in the aliphatic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO-- or --SO ₂ --). 3. The carboxylate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein ^X0 is an alicyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group ( _-CH2- contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-) or a group combining an alicyclic hydrocarbon group with a chain hydrocarbon group ( _-CH2- contained in the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the chain hydrocarbon group may be replaced by -O- or -CO-, and the alicyclic hydrocarbon group and the chain hydrocarbon group may have a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group). A carboxylic acid generator containing the carboxylate according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A resist composition comprising the carboxylic acid generator according to claim 4, an acid generator other than the carboxylic acid generator, and a resin having an acid labile group. 6. The resist composition according to claim 5, wherein the resin having an acid labile group is a resin containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of a structural unit represented by formula (a1-1) and a structural unit represented by formula (a1-2).

[In formula (a1-1) and formula (a1-2),
L ^a1 and L ^a2 each independently represent --O-- or *-O--(CH ₂ ) _k1 -CO--O--, where k1 represents an integer of 1 to 7, and * represents a bond to --CO--.
R ^a4 and R ^a5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
R ^a6 and R ^a7 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof.
m1 represents an integer of 0 to 14.
n1 represents an integer of 0 to 10.
n1′ represents an integer of 0 to 3. 7. The resist composition according to claim 5, wherein the resin having an acid labile group further contains a structural unit represented by formula (a2-A).

[In formula (a2-A),
R ^a50 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a halogen atom.
R ^a51 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group.
A ^a50 represents a single bond or ^* -X ^a51 -(A ^a52 -X ^a52 ) _nb -, where * represents the bonding site with the carbon atom to which -R ^a50 is bonded.
Each A ^a52 independently represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
X ^a51 and X ^a52 each independently represent —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—.
nb represents 0 or 1.
mb represents an integer of 0 to 4. When mb is an integer of 2 or more, multiple R ^a51 may be the same or different. (1) a step of applying the resist composition according to any one of claims 5 to 7 onto a substrate;
(2) A step of drying the applied composition to form a composition layer;
(3) exposing the composition layer to light;
(4) a step of heating the composition layer after exposure; and (5) a step of developing the composition layer after heating.
A method for producing a resist pattern comprising the steps of: