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an amide bond and a sulfonamide bond. The connecting group represented by E is more preferably an alkylene bond, an ester bond or an ether bond. 

Compound (A) may be a compound comprising a plural› ity of moieties each containing a nitrogen atom. For example, compound (A) may be a compound with the structure of general formula (N-II) in which at least one of R/s is expressed by general formula (N-I). 

Compounds (A) of general formula (N-II) in one form thereof are expressed by general formula (N-V) below. 

In the formula, X, AN and y- are as defined above in connection with general formula (N-II). Particular examples and preferred examples thereof are also the same as set forth there. 

R$_{14}$, R 15 , rand 1 have the same meanings as those of the groups and indexes in general formula (ZI-4) expressing one form of photoacid generator (B) to be described hereinbe› low. Particular examples and preferred examples thereof are also the same as set forth there. 

Compounds (A) of general formula (N-II) in one form thereof are expressed by general formula (N-VI) below. 

In general formula (N-VI), 

A represents a sulfur atom or an iodine atom. 

Ru, or each of Ru s independently, represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alicyclic group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic hydrocarbon group. When m=2, two Ru s may be bonded to each other to thereby form a ring. 

Ar, or each of Ar’s independently, represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group. 

Xi, or each of X$_{1 }$s independently, represents a bivalent connecting group. 

R$_{12}$, or each ofR$_{12}$s independently, represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group. 

When A is a sulfur atom, m is an integer of 1 to 3 and n is an integer satisfying the relationship m+n=3. 

When A is an iodine atom, m is an integer of 1 or 2 and n is an integer satisfying the relationship m+n=2. 

y- represents an anion ( details thereof will be described hereinafter as the anion moiety of compound (A)). 

Particular examples and preferred examples of the alkyl group, alkenyl group, alicyclic group, aromatic hydrocarbon group and heterocyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Ru are the same as set forth above in connection with R$_{1 }$ in general formula (N-II). 

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(N-VI) 

Particular examples and preferred examples of the aro› matic hydrocarbon groups represented by Ar are the same as set forth above in connection with R in general formula (N-II). 

Particular examples and preferred examples of the biva› lent connecting groups represented by X$_{1 }$ are the same as set forth above in connection with X in general formula (N-II). 

Particular examples and preferred examples of the organic groups represented by R$_{12 }$are the same as set forth above in connection with RA and RB in general formula (N-I). 

A form in which X is an alkylene group (for example, a methylene group) and in which two R$_{12}$s are bonded to each other to thereby form a ring is especially preferred from the viewpoint of dependence on post-exposure bake (PEB) temperature and post-exposure line width (PED) stability. 

The anion moiety of compound (A) is not particularly limited. It is preferred for the anion contained in compound (A) to be a nonnucleophilic anion. Herein, the nonnucleo› philic anion refers to an anion whose capability of inducing a nucleophilic reaction is markedly low, which anion is capable of suppressing any decomposition over time by an intramolecular nucleophilic reaction. The nonnucleophilic anion enhances the temporal stability of the composition of the present invention. 

As the nonnucleophilic anion, there can be mentioned, for example, a sulfonate anion, a carboxylate anion, a sulfo› nylimide anion, a bis(alkylsulfonyl)imide anion, a tris(alkyl› sulfonyl)methyl anion or the like. 

As the sulfonate anion, there can be mentioned, for example, an aliphatic sulfonate anion, an aromatic sulfonate anion, a camphor sulfonate anion or the like. 

As the carboxylate anion, there can be mentioned, for example, an aliphatic carboxylate anion, an aromatic car› boxylate anion, an aralkyl carboxylate anion or the like. 

The aliphatic moiety in the aliphatic sulfonate anion may be an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group, being preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms. As such, there can be mentioned, for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a pentyl group, a neopen› tyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a nonyl group, a decyl group, an undecyl group, a dodecyl group, a tridecyl group, a tetradecyl group, a pentadecyl group, a hexadecyl group, a heptadecyl group, an octadecyl group, a nonadecyl group, an eicosyl group, a cyclopropyl group, a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, an adaman› tyl group, a norbornyl group, a bornyl group or the like. 

As a preferred aromatic group in the aromatic sulfonate anion, there can be mentioned an aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, for example, a phenyl group, a tolyl group, a naphthyl group or the like. 

Substituents may be introduced in the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group in the aliphatic sulfonate anion and aromatic sulfonate anion. As the substituents introducible in the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group in the aliphatic sulfonate anion and aromatic sulfonate anion, there can be mentioned, for example, a nitro group, a halogen atom (fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom or iodine atom), a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a cyano group, an alkoxy group (preferably having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), a cycloalkyl group (preferably having 3 to 15 carbon atoms), an aryl group (preferably having 6 to 14 carbon atoms), an alkoxycarbonyl group (preferably having 2 to 7 carbon atoms), an acyl group (preferably having 2 to 12 carbon atoms), an alkoxycarbo› nyloxy group (preferably having 2 to 7 carbon atoms), an 

