PHOTOREACTIONS OF POLYMERIC (METH)ACRYLOYLETHYL PHENYLGLYOXYLATE-REACTIVITY IN SOLUTION AND FILM

Photochemical reactions of poly[(meth)acryloylethyl phenylglyoxylate] in aprotic solvents were studied, and cross-linking of the polymer cau sed by a hydrogen abstraction reaction between pendent phenylglyoxylat e chromophores was observed. The Norrish type II reaction, a primary p hotochemical process of the phenylglyoxylate chromophore, does not com pete with this hydrogen abstraction. Poly[(meth)acryloylethyl phenylgl yoxylate] was tested as a negative-tone photoimaging material and foun d to have a sensitivity of 110 mJ.cm(-2) and a contrast ratio of 0.75 after imagewise irradiation. The resolution achieved under conventiona l laboratory conditions was 2 mu m.