Novel processes for the preparation of a new class of coumarin derivatives, which are useful as photoactive compounds in a wide variety of applications including photoresists and other opto-electronic applications, are disclosed and claimed. The process involves a multi-step synthetic method for the preparation of ether, ester, carbonate, or sulfonate derivative of 5-hydroxy, 6-hydroxy, or 7-hydroxy-3-diazo-4-oxo-3,4-dihydrocoumarin starting from the corresponding dihydroxyacetophenone. The compounds formed from the process of the present invention exhibit very high photosensitivity in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) region (ca. 250 nm), and therefore, are useful as photoactive compounds in DUV photoresist formulations.
