Monomers and polymers are provided that comprise a carbon alicyclic group or heteroalicyclic group that comprises 1) one or more acid-labile ring substituents and 2) one or more ether or thioether ring substituents. Photoresists that comprise such polymers also are provided.

Provided is a thermosetting resin composition, from which a cured product having excellent transparency with less yellowing than that in the related art can be obtained, and which is advantageous in cost because a monomer obtained by using an inexpensive raw material is used. An ester compound contains, in one molecule, at least one functional group represented by the following general formula (1) or (2).

##STR00001##

(In both the general formulae (1) and (2), R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 50 or less carbon atoms.

R.sub.2 is an alkylene group having 50 or less carbon atoms that may contain an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom as a portion thereof.)

Provided is a thermosetting resin composition, from which a cured product having excellent transparency with less yellowing than that in the related art can be obtained, and which is advantageous in cost because a monomer obtained by using an inexpensive raw material is used. An ester compound contains, in one molecule, at least one functional group represented by the following general formula (1) or (2).

##STR00001##

(In both the general formulae (1) and (2), R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 50 or less carbon atoms.

R.sub.2 is an alkylene group having 50 or less carbon atoms that may contain an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom as a portion thereof.)

The di(meth)acrylate compound of the present disclosure is represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein Z.sup.1a and Z.sup.1b each represent an arene ring, R.sup.1a and R.sup.1b each represent a substituent, k1 and k2 each denote an integer of not less than 0, m1 and m2 each denote an integer of 0 to 4, and at least one of m1 and m2 denotes 1 or more, R.sup.2a and R.sup.2b each represent a substituent, n1 and n2 each denote an integer of 0 to 4, m1+n1 and m2+n2 each denote 4 or less, A.sup.1a and A.sup.1b each represent a straight- or branched-chain alkylene group, A.sup.2a and A.sup.2b each represent a straight- or branched-chain alkylene group, p1 and p2 each denote an integer of not less than 0, and R.sup.3a and R.sup.3b each represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

The di(meth)acrylate compound is a novel compound having a high refractive index.

The di(meth)acrylate compound of the present disclosure is represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein Z.sup.1a and Z.sup.1b each represent an arene ring, R.sup.1a and R.sup.1b each represent a substituent, k1 and k2 each denote an integer of not less than 0, m1 and m2 each denote an integer of 0 to 4, and at least one of m1 and m2 denotes 1 or more, R.sup.2a and R.sup.2b each represent a substituent, n1 and n2 each denote an integer of 0 to 4, m1+n1 and m2+n2 each denote 4 or less, A.sup.1a and A.sup.1b each represent a straight- or branched-chain alkylene group, A.sup.2a and A.sup.2b each represent a straight- or branched-chain alkylene group, p1 and p2 each denote an integer of not less than 0, and R.sup.3a and R.sup.3b each represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

The di(meth)acrylate compound is a novel compound having a high refractive index.

A process can be used for producing methacrylic acid or a methacrylic acid ester. The process involves producing acrolein, reacting the produced acrolein with hydrogen to produce propanal, reacting the propanal with formaldehyde to produce methacrolein, and oxidizing the methacrolein in the presence of an oxygen containing gas and optionally an alcohol, to obtain methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester.

A process can be used for producing methacrylic acid or a methacrylic acid ester. The process involves producing acrolein, reacting the produced acrolein with hydrogen to produce propanal, reacting the propanal with formaldehyde to produce methacrolein, and oxidizing the methacrolein in the presence of an oxygen containing gas and optionally an alcohol, to obtain methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester.

The present invention relates to novel ophthalmic devices comprising polymerized compounds comprising a photoactive unit, said polymerized compounds, and special monomer compounds being particularly suitable for compositions and ophthalmic devices.

The present invention relates to novel ophthalmic devices comprising polymerized compounds comprising a photoactive unit, said polymerized compounds, and special monomer compounds being particularly suitable for compositions and ophthalmic devices.

In one preferred embodiment, polymers are provided that comprise a structure of the following Formula (I): ##STR00001##
Photoresists that comprises such polymers also are provided.