Patent ID: 8895231

Claim:
A process for forming a pattern, comprising the steps of: coating a first positive resist composition comprising a copolymer comprising recurring units having lactone as an adhesive group and recurring units having an acid labile group, a photoacid generator, a base generator, and a first solvent comprising at least one of PGMEA and cyclohexanone onto a substrate to form a first resist film, exposing the first resist film to high-energy radiation, post-exposure baking, and developing the first resist film with a developer to form a first resist pattern, heating the first resist pattern at 100 to 140° C. for 3 to 180 seconds for causing the base generator to generate an amine compound for inactivating the first resist pattern to acid while the first resist pattern remains soluble in the first solvent, coating a second positive resist composition comprising a second solvent which contains an alcohol of 3 to 8 carbon atoms and an optional ether of 6 to 12 carbon atoms, which does not dissolve away the first resist pattern, and which is different from the first solvent onto the first resist pattern-bearing substrate to form a second resist film, exposing the second resist film to high-energy radiation, post-exposure baking, and developing the second resist film with a developer to form a second resist pattern, wherein said base generator has the general formula (1′) or (2′): wherein R is a straight, branched or cyclic C 1 -C 8 alkylene group, a straight or branched C 2 -C 8 alkenylene or C 7 -C 14 aralkylene group, a C 6 -C 12 arylene group, or a straight, branched or cyclic C 1 -C 6 alkylene group having a halo- or C 1 -C 6 alkoxy-substituted aryl group bonded thereto, which may be separated by a —COO—, —CONH— or —NHCO— group, and R′ is a trivalent group derived by eliminating one hydrogen atom from a straight, branched or cyclic C 1 -C 8 alkylene group.