Patent ID: 7132216

Claim:
In a composition for use during microlithographic processes, said composition comprising a polymer binder dissolved in a solvent system, the improvement which comprises a non-aromatic, light attenuating compound comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of: where: each R 1 is non-aromatic and is individually hydrogen, or an acyclic or cyclic alkyl or heteroalkyl; in structure A, where EWG and R 2 do not form a cyclic unit: EWG is a non-aromatic electron-withdrawing group; and R 2 is non-aromatic and is hydrogen, an a cyclic or cyclic alkyl or heteroalkyl, or an electron-withdrawing group; and in structure B, where EWG and R 2 form a cyclic electron-withdrawing unit, the cyclic unit comprises a C═O, C═S, or a C═N at a first carbon atom, and: a C═O or a C═N attached to a carbon atom at least two carbon atoms away from the first carbon atom; or an O, S, or N as a member of the ring at least two positions away from the first carbon atom; where: R 1 is non-aromatic and is individually hydrogen, or an acyclic or cyclic alkyl or heteroalkyl; EDG is an electron-donating group; in structure A, where EWG and R 2 do not form a cyclic unit: EWG is a non-aromatic electron-withdrawing group; and R 2 is non-aromatic and is hydrogen, an acyclic or cyclic alkyl or heteroalkyl, or an electron-withdrawing group; and in structure B, where EWG and R 2 form a cyclic electron-withdrawing unit, the cyclic unit comprises a C═O, C═S, or a C═N at a first carbon atom, and: a C═O or a C═N attached to a carbon atom at least two carbon atoms away from the first carbon atom; or an O, S, or N as a member of the ring at least two positions away from the first carbon atom; where: R 2 is non-aromatic and is individually an acyclic or cyclic alkyl or heteroalkyl, or an electron-withdrawing group; and EWG is a non-aromatic electron-withdrawing group; where: R 2 is non-aromatic and is individually an acyclic or cyclic alkyl or heteroalkyl, or an electron-withdrawing group; and EWG is a non-aromatic electron-withdrawing group; and mixtures thereof, wherein said polymer binder comprises a backbone, and at least one of R 1 and R 2 of said light attenuating compound is bonded to the polymer binder backbone.