Process for producing monomer

1. A process for producing a monomer represented by the following general formula 1,

wherein R 1 represents hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; R 2 , R 3 and R 4 each independently represent hydrogen or a substituent; X and Y each independently represent a direct bond or optionally substituted alkylene with 1 to 3 chain members, and Z represents a direct bond or substituted alkylene with 1 chain member, comprising carrying out esterification or transesterification between a compound represented by the following general formula 2:

wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X, Y and Z are defined as described above for general formula 1, and

a compound represented by the following general formula 3:

wherein R 1 is defined as described above for general formula 1 and R 5 represents hydrogen or a substituent,

in the presence of a biocatalyst.

2. A process for producing a monomer for resists represented by the following general formula 1:

wherein R 1 represents hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; R 2 , R 3 and R 4 each independently represent hydrogen or a substituent; and X, Y and Z each independently represent a direct bond or optionally substituted alkylene with 1 to 3 chain members,

comprising carrying out esterification or transesterification between a compound represented by the following general formula 2:

wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X, Y and Z are defined as described above for general formula 1 provided that a compound wherein OH in formula 2 is linked to a primary carbon atom is excluded, and

a compound represented by the following general formula 3:

wherein R 1 is defined as described above for general formula 1 and R 5 represents hydrogen or a substituent,

in the presence of a biocatalyst.

3. A process for producing a monomer represented by the following general formula 1,

wherein R 1 represents hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; R 2 , R 3 and R 4 each independently represent hydrogen or a substituent; and X, Y and Z each independently represent a direct bond or optionally substituted alkylene with 1 to 3 chain members, comprising carrying out esterification or transesterification between a compound represented by the following general formula 2:

wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X, Y and Z are defined as described above for general formula 1, and

a compound represented by the following general formula 3:

wherein R 1 is defined as described above for general formula 1 and R 5 represents hydrogen or a substituent,

in the presence of a biocatalyst.

4. The process for producing a monomer as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of γ-butyrolactone-3-yl(meth)acrylate, mevalonolactone(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-3-methyl-3-yl(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-2-yl(meth)acrylate, 1-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, pantolactone(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-2-methyl-2-yl(meth)acrylate, 1-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl)propyl(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-3-ethyl-3-yl(meth)acrylate and γ-butyrolactone-2-ethyl-2-yl(meth)acrylate.

5. The process for producing a monomer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of γ-butyrolactone-3-yl(meth)acrylate, mevalonolactone(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-3-methyl-3-yl(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-2-yl(meth)acrylate, 1-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, pantolactone(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-2-methyl-2-yl(meth)acrylate, 1-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl)propyl(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-3-ethyl-3-yl(meth)acrylate and γ-butyrolactone-2-ethyl-2-yl(meth)acrylate.

6. The process for producing a monomer as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of γ-butyrolactone-3-yl(meth)acrylate, mevalonolactone(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-3-methyl-3-yl(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-2-yl(meth)acrylate, 1-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, pantolactone(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-2-methyl-2-yl(meth)acrylate, 1-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl)propyl(meth)acrylate, γ-butyrolactone-3-ethyl-3-yl(meth)acrylate and γ-butyrolactone-2-ethyl-2-yl(meth)acrylate.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one enzyme selected from the following group:

Lipase P, Lipase PS, Lipase A6, Lipase AP6, Lipase M-10, Lipase OF, Lipase PL, Lipase QLM, Lipase SL, Lipase TL, Lipase MY ,Toyozyme LIP, Lipase Type VII, Acylase I, Protease Type XXXI, Lipase, Lipozyme IM 20, Lipase M, Lipase MFL, Novozym435, Lipozyme RM IM, Lipozyme TL IM, Alcalase, Durazym, Esperase, Savinase, Bioplase Conc., Lipase AY, Lilipase A-10, Lipase 2G, Bioplase AL-15FG, Lipase PS-C “Amano” I, Lipase PS-C “Amano” II, Lipase PS-D “Amano” I, Lipase AK “Amano” 20, CHIRAZYME L-2, CHIRAZYME L-3, CHIRAZYME L-3p, CHIRAZYME L-6, CHIRAZYME L-8, CHIRAZYME L-9, CHIRAZYME L-10, Pancreatin, Porcine Pancreas Lipase, CHIRAZYME L-7, and Papain.

8. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one enzyme selected from the following group:

Lipase P, Lipase PS, Lipase A6, Lipase AP6, Lipase M-10, Lipase OF, Lipase PL, Lipase QLM, Lipase SL, Lipase TL, Lipase MY, Toyozyme LIP, Lipase Type VII, Acylase I, Protease Type XXXI, Lipase, Lipozyme TM 20, Lipase M, Lipase MFL, Novozym435, Lipozyme RM IM, Lipozyme TL TM, Alcalase, Durazym, Esperase, Savinase, Bioplase Couc., Lipase AY, Lilipase A-10, Lipase 2G, Bioplase AL-15FG, Lipase PS-C “Amano” I, Lipase PS-C “Amano” II, Lipase PS-D “Amano” I, Lipase AK “Amano” 20, CHIRAZYME L-2, CHIRAZYME L-3, CHIRAZYME L-3p, CHIRAZYME L-6, CHIRAZYME L-8, CHIRAZYME L-9, CHIRAZYME L-10, Pancreatin, Porcine Pancreas Lipase, CHIRAZYME L-7, and Papain.

9. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one enzyme selected from the following group:

Lipase P, Lipase PS, Lipase A6, Lipase AP6, Lipase M-10, Lipase OF, Lipase PL, Lipase QLM, Lipase SL, Lipase TL, Lipase MY, Toyozyme LIP, Lipase Type VII, Acylase I, Protease Type XXXI, Lipase, Lipozyme IM 20, Lipase M, Lipase MFL, Novozym435, Lipozyme RM TM, Lipozyme TL TM, Alcalase, Durazym, Esperase, Savinase, Bioplase Conc., Lipase AY, Lilipase A-10, Lipase 2G, Bioplase AL-15FG, Lipase PS-C “Amano” I, Lipase PS-C “Amano” II, Lipase PS-D “Amano” I, Lipase AK “Amano” 20, CHIRAZYME L-2, CHIRAZYME L-3, CHIRAZYME L-3p, CHIRAZYME L-6, CHIRAZYME L-8, CHIRAZYME L-9, CHIRAZYME L-10, Pancreatin, Porcine Pancreas Lipase, CHIRAZYME L-7, and Papain.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: genus Pseudomonas , genus Agrobacterium , genus Bacillus , genus Microbacterium , genus Aspergillus , genus Mucor , genus Rhizomucor , genus Mortierella , genus Nocardia , genus Stenotrophomonas , genus Brevundimonas , genus Rhodococcus , genus Aeromonas , genus Candida , genus Pichia , genus Debaryomyces , genus Alcaligenes , genus Humicola , genus Thermomyces , and genus Rhizopus.

11. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at east one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: genus Pseudomonas , genus Agrobacterium , genus Bacillus , genus Microbacterium , genus Aspergillus , genus Mucor , genus Rhizomucor , genus Mortierella , genus Nocardia , genus Stenotrophomonas , genus Brevundimonas , genus Rhodococcus , genus Aeromonas , genus Candida , genus Pichia , genus Debaryomyces , genus Alcaligenes , genus Humicola , genus Thermomyces , and genus Rhizopus.

12. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: genus Pseudomonas , genus Agrobacterium , genus Bacillus , genus Microbacterium , genus Aspergillus , genus Mucor , genus Rhizomucor , genus Mortierella , genus Nocardia , genus Stenotrophomonas , genus Brevundimonas , genus Rhodococcus , genus Aeromonas , genus Candida , genus Pichia , genus Debaryomyces , genus Alcaligenes , genus Humicola , genus Thermomyces , and genus Rhizopus.

13. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1220), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1267), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1275), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1514), Pseudomonas fluorescens (IAM 1008), Pseudomonas ovalis (IAM 1002), Agrobacterium rhizogenes (IFO 13257), Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Microbacterium barkeri (JCM 1343), Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus melleus, Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor miehei, Mucor javanicus (IFO 4572), Mortierella isabellina (IFO 7824), Nocardia rubra (IFM 18), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (IFO 12020), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (IFO 12690), Brevundimonas diminuta (IFO 14213), Rhodococcus equi (IFO 3730 , Aeromonas hydrophila (IFO 3820), Candida rugosa, Candida antarctica, Candida tropicalis (IAM 4965), Pichia anomala (IFO 146), Debaryomyces hansenii (IFO 34), Humicola lanuginose, Thermomyces lanuginos , and Rhizopus japonicus.

14. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1220), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1267), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1275), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1514), Pseudomonas fluorescens (IAM 1008), Pseudomonas ovalis (IAM 1002), Agrobacterium rhizogenes (IFO 13257), Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Microbacterium barkeri (JCM 1343), Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus melleus, Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor miehei, Mucor javanicus (IFO 4572), Mortierella isabellina (IFO 7824), Nocardia rubra (IFM 18), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (IFO 12020), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (IFO 12690), Brevundimonas diminuta (IFO 14213), Rhodococcus equi (IFO 3730 , Aeromonas hydrophila (IFO 3820), Candida rugosa, Candida antarctica, Candida tropicalis (IAM 4965), Pichia anomala (IFO 146), Debaryomyces hansenii (IFO 34), Humicola lanuginose, Thermomyces lanuginos , and Rhizopus japonicus.

15. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1220), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1267), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1275), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1514), Pseudomonas fluorescens (IAM 1008), Pseudomonas ovalis (IAM 1002), Agrobacterium rhizogenes (IFO 13257), Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Microbacterium barkeri (JCM 1343), Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus melleus, Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor miehei, Mucor javanicus (IFO 4572), Mortierella isabellina (IFO 7824), Nocardia rubra (IFM 18), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (IFO 12020), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (IFO 12690), Brevundimonas diminuta (IFO 14213), Rhodococcus equi (IFO 3730 , Aeromonas hydrophila (IFO 3820), Candida rugosa, Candida antarctica, Candida tropicalis (IAM 4965), Pichia anomala (IFO 146), Debaryomyces hansenii (IFO 34), Humicola lanuginose, Thermomyces lanuginos , and Rhizopus japonicus.

16. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1267), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1220), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1514), Brevundimonas diminuta (IFO 14213), Nocardia rubra (IFM 18) and Rhodococcus equi (IFO 3730).

17. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1267), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1220), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1514), Brevundimonas diminuta (IFO 14213), Nocardia rubra (IFM 18) and Rhodococcus equi (IFO 3730).

18. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said biocatalyst comprises at least one microorganism selected from microorganisms of: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1267), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1220), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IAM 1514), Brevundimonas diminuta (IFO 14213), Nocardia rubra (IFM 18) and Rhodococcus equi (IFO 3730).

19. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 5 represents hydrogen.

20. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein R 5 represents hydrogen.

21. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein R 5 represents hydrogen.