Photosensitive compound and photosensitive composition

The present invention relates to a water-soluble photosensitive compound represented by the general formula (1): ##STR1##

or by the general formula (2): ##STR2##

in the formula, X represents a direct bond, an alkylene group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, -CH₂O-, -OCH₂-, -CH₂OCH₂-, -O-, -S- or -SO₂-, and Z represents -SO₃^-;.Q⁺, -COO^-;.Q⁺ or -SO₂NR₂, in which Q⁺ represents Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ or N⁺R₄ and R represents a hydrogen atom and/or an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, said alkyl group optionally having one hydroxy, ether, carbonyl, carbonyloxy or oxycarbonyl group,

wherein a photosensitive group has an absorption maximum wavelength of not longer than 305 nm in the ultraviolet absorption spectrum thereof.