Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 23, 2026
Application No. 18/440,742

Compound For Forming Metal-Containing Film, Composition For Forming Metal-Containing Film, And Patterning Process

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Feb 13, 2024
Priority
Feb 15, 2023 — JP 2023-022005
Examiner
EOFF, ANCA
Art Unit
2817
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
1011 granted / 1262 resolved
+12.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
1316
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
50.5%
+10.5% vs TC avg
§102
18.8%
-21.2% vs TC avg
§112
20.4%
-19.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1262 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . The foreign priority application No.2023-022005 filed on February 15, 2023 in Japan has been received and it is acknowledged. Election/Restrictions Applicant's election with traverse of Species B in the reply filed on September 11, 2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the subject matter of Species A to E is sufficiently related and is not a burden to search the relevant prior art. This is not found persuasive because the Species A to E are directed to different methods, with different method steps, and the search strategies for the Species A to E are different. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL. Claims 1-18 are pending, with claims 13 and 15-18 withdrawn from consideration as being directed to non-elected Species. Specification The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it exceeds 150 words. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 102 that forms the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by BE 661,479, as evidenced by Hatakeyama et al. (US 2023/0288800). BE 661,479 teaches the compound of formula: PNG media_image1.png 55 304 media_image1.png Greyscale , wherein R is an alkyl group with less than 10 carbon atoms and R’ is a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl (page 2, lines 21-23). BE 661,479 teaches that R’ may be a 1-ethynylcyclohexyl group (page 3, line 14). The examiner notes that BE 661,479 teaches bis(1-ethynyl maleate) tin dibutyl (page 3, line 29), but this is a typo. The correct formula is bis(1-ethynylcyclohexyl maleate) tin dibutyl, because BE 661,479 teaches that R’ may be a 1-ethynylcyclohexyl group (page 3, line 14). Bis(1-ethynylcyclohexyl maleate) tin dibutyl is represented by the formula: PNG media_image2.png 236 490 media_image2.png Greyscale , and it is a compound of formula (M) in claim 1, wherein m=2, n=2, Q is an unsubstituted alkyl group with 4 carbon atoms, T is a group of formula (1), RA is a group of formula (RA-1), Y1 is an unsubstituted unsaturated divalent organic group with 2 carbon atoms, R1 is a group of formula PNG media_image3.png 65 130 media_image3.png Greyscale , and R2 is a 1-ethynyl cyclohexyl group of formula: PNG media_image4.png 108 206 media_image4.png Greyscale . Hatakeyama et al. teaches an acid labile group of triple bond-containing tertiary ester type of formula: PNG media_image5.png 107 147 media_image5.png Greyscale wherein R3 and R4 may be C1-C12 saturated hydrocarbyl groups which may bond to form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached and R5 may be a hydrogen group (par.0056-0062). Therefore, the 1-ethynyl cyclohexyl group of BE 661,479 is a tertiary hydrocarbyl group and it is an organic group to be removed by an action of an acid (group R2). The limitation “for forming a metal-containing film” in claim 1 shows only an intended use and adds no patentable weigh to the claim. Therefore, bis(1-ethynylcyclohexyl maleate) tin dibutyl of BE 661,479 anticipates the compound in claim 1 of the instant application. With regard to claim 2, bis(1-ethynylcyclohexyl maleate) tin dibutyl is a compound of formula (M) in wherein m=2, n=2, Q is an unsubstituted alkyl group with 4 carbon atoms, T is a group of formula (1), RA is a group of formula (RA-1), and Y1 is an unsubstituted unsaturated divalent organic group with 2 carbon atoms. With regard to claims 3 and 4, bis(1-ethynylcyclohexyl maleate) tin dibutyl is a compound of formula (M) in wherein m=2, n=2, Q is an unsubstituted alkyl group with 4 carbon atoms, T is a group of formula (1), RA is a group of formula (RA-1), and Y1 is a group of formula: PNG media_image6.png 74 144 media_image6.png Greyscale , Ra and Rb are hydrogen atoms. With regard to claims 5-8, Mw=Mn for bis(1-ethynylcyclohexyl maleate) tin dibutyl, so the ratio Mw/Mn=1. This value is within the claimed range. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 9-12 and 14 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. BE 661,479 teaches compositions comprising halogenated polymers and the tin compounds (page 5, lines 5-9) but fail to teach the composition in claim 9. There are no prior art teachings that would motivate one of ordinary skill to modify BE 661,479 and obtain the composition in claim 9 of the instant application. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANCA EOFF whose telephone number is (571)272-9810. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10am-6:30pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Niki Bakhtiari can be reached at (571)272-3433. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /ANCA EOFF/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1722
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 13, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+10.8%)
2y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1262 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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