Abstract: It has been found that certain cells in culture can convert more than about 0.002 percent of the carbon available in the cell culture medium into isoprene. These cells have a heterologous nucleic acid that (i) encodes an isoprene synthase polypeptide and (ii) is operably linked to a promoter. The isoprene produced in such a cultured medium can then be recovered and polymerized into synthetic rubbers and other useful polymeric materials. The synthetic isoprene containing polymers of this invention offer the benefit of being verifiable as to being derived from non-petrochemical based resources. They can also be analytically distinguished from rubbers that come from natural sources. The present invention more specifically discloses a polyisoprene polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene monomer, wherein the polyisoprene polymer has ?13C value of greater than ?22‰.

Abstract: It has been found that certain cells in culture can convert more than about 0.002 percent of the carbon available in the cell culture medium into isoprene. These cells have a heterologous nucleic acid that (i) encodes an isoprene synthase polypeptide and (ii) is operably linked to a promoter. The isoprene produced in such a cultured medium can then be recovered and polymerized into synthetic rubbers and other useful polymeric materials. The synthetic isoprene containing polymers of this invention offer the benefit of being verifiable as to being derived from non-petrochemical based resources. They can also be analytically distinguished from rubbers that come from natural sources. The present invention more specifically discloses a polyisoprene polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene monomer, wherein the polyisoprene polymer has ?13C value of greater than ?22‰.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: It has been found that certain cells in culture can convert more than about 0.002 percent of the carbon available in the cell culture medium into isoprene. These cells have a heterologous nucleic acid that (i) encodes an isoprene synthase polypeptide and (ii) is operably linked to a promoter. In some cases, these cells are cultured in a culture medium that includes a carbon source, such as, but not limited to, a carbohydrate, glycerol, glycerine, dihydroxyacetone, one-carbon source, oil, animal fat, animal oil, fatty acid, lipid, phospholipid, glycerolipid, monoglyceride, diglyceride, triglyceride, renewable carbon source, polypeptide (e.g., a microbial or plant protein or peptide), yeast extract, component from a yeast extract, or any combination of two or more of the foregoing. The isoprene produced in such a cultured medium can then be recovered and polymerized into synthetic rubbers and other useful polymeric materials.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: Three processes for the manufacture of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) which utilize the action of bases that are capable of either attacking silicon or any compound that can react with a protic solvent (e.g. ROH, H2O etc.) and generate hydroxide [OH]?, alkoxide [RO]??, etc. The first process utilizes such bases to effectively redistribute the silicon-oxygen frameworks in polymeric silsesquioxanes [RSiO1.5]28 where ?=1-1,000,000 or higher into POSS nanostructures of formulas [(RSiO1.5)n?#, homoleptic, [(RXSiO1.5)n]?#, functionalized homoleptic, [(RSiO1.5)m(R?SiO1.5)n]?#, heteroleptic, and {(RSiO1.5)m(RXSiO1.0)n}?#, functionalized heteroleptic nanostructures. The second process utilizes base to aid in the formation of POSS nanostructures of formulas [(RSiO1.5)n]?# homoleptic and [(RSiO1.5)m(R?SiO1.5)n]?# heteroleptic and [(RSiO1.5)m(RXSiO1.

Abstract: The nanoscopic dimensions of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and polyhedral oligomeric silicates (POS) materials ranges from 0.7 nm to 5.0 nm and enables the thermomechanical and physical properties of polymeric materials to be improved by providing nanoscopic reinforcement of polymer chains at a length scale that is not possible by physically smaller aromatic chemical systems or larger fillers and fibers. A simple and cost effective method for incorporating POSS/POS nanoreinforcements onto polymers via the reactive grafting of suitably functionalized POSS/POS entities with polymeric systems amenable to such processes is described. The method teaches that the resulting POSS-grafted-polymers are particularly well suited for alloying agents by nongrafted POSS entitles such as molecular silicas. The successful alloying of POSS-polymers is aided because their interfacial tensions are reduced relative to non-POSS containing systems.

Abstract: Processes have been developed for the manufacture of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), polysilsesquioxanes, polyhedral oligomeric silicates (POS), and siloxane molecules bearing reactive ring-strained cyclic olefins (e.g. norbornenyl, cyclopentenyl, etc. functionalities). The preferred manufacturing processes employ the silation of siloxides (Si—OA, where A=H, alkaline or alkaline earth metals) with silane reagents that contain at least one reactive ring-strained cyclic olefin functionality [e.g., X3-ySi(CH3)y(CH2)2 where y=1-2 and X=OH, Cl, Br, I, alkoxide OR, acetate OOCR, peroxide OOR, amine NR2, isocyanate NCO, and R]. Alternatively, similar products can be prepared through hydrosilation reactions between silanes containing at least one silicon-hydrogen bond (Si—H) with ring-strained cyclic olefin reagents [e.g., 5-vinyl, 2 norbornene CH2?CH, cyclopentadiene]. The two processes can be effectively practiced using polymeric silsesquioxanes [RSiO1.

Abstract: Method is provided for selectively opening rings of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) compounds to from functionalized derivatives thereof or new POSS species. Per the inventive method, the POSS compound is reacted with an acid to selectively cleave bonds in the POSS rings to add functionalities thereto for grafting, polymerization or catalysis, to thus form new familes of POSS derived compounds. Also provided are the new compounds so formed. Method is also provided for expanding rings of POSS compounds. Per the inventive method, a POSS compound is reacted with silane reagents to obtain an expanded POSS framework with added Si ring substituends to form new families of POSS compounds. Also provided are the new compounds so formed.

Abstract: Performance additives in high performance polymers using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and polyhedral oligomeric silicates (POS) as nanoscopic reinforcements, porosity control agents, thermal and oxidative stability aids to improve the properties of the polymers.

Abstract: Processes have been developed for the manufacture of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), polysilsesquioxanes, polyhedral oligomeric silicates (POS), and siloxane molecules bearing reactive ring-strained cyclic olefins (e.g. norbornenyl, cyclopentenyl, etc. functionalities). The preferred manufacturing processes employ the silation of siloxides (SiOA, where A=H, alkaline or alkaline earth metals) with silane reagents that contain at least one reactive ring-strained cyclic olefin functionality [e.g., X3-ySi(CH3)y(CH2)2 where y=1-2 and X=OH, Cl, Br, I, alkoxide OR, acetate OOCR, peroxide OOR, amine NR2, isocyanate NCO, and R]. Alternatively, similar products can be prepared through hydrosilation reactions between silanes containing at least one silicon-hydrogen bond (Si—H) with ring-strained cyclic olefin reagents [e.g., 5-vinyl, 2 norbornene CH2═CH, cyclopentadiene].

Abstract: Method is provided for reacting silsesquioxane resins or polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) bearing one or more olefinic groups with strong acids to cleave one or more olefin bonds of the olefinic groups to form POSS species of monomers or polymers having one or more functionalities suitable for reaction with a wide range of polymeric systems, to thus form new POSS derived compounds. Also provided are the new compounds so formed.

Abstract: A synthetic process for the selective preparation of reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as well as polyhedral oligomeric silicate (POS) (spherosilicate) is provided. The method claimed herein employs metal catalyzed metathesis reactions for the selective reaction of .alpha.-olefin containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes or silicates with olefinic reagents bearing functionalities useful for grafting reactions, polymerization chemistry and sol-gel processes. The use of metal catalyzed metathesis chemistry to form both linear or network polyhedral silsesquioxane polymers directly from .alpha.-olefin-containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes is also described.

Abstract: A synthetic process for the selective preparation of reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as well as polyhedral oligomeric silicate (POS) (spherosilicate) is provided. The inventive process employs the use of metal catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions for the selective reaction of silane containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes or silicates with olefinic reagents bearing functionalities useful for grafting reactions, polymerization chemistry and sol-gel processes. The invention also discloses metal-catalyzed hydrosulfidation reactions and metal-catalyzed hydrophosphidation reacttions for functionalization of polycyclic silicones.

Abstract: A synthesis process for polysilsesquioxanes which produces a high yield, tractable copolymer of perfectly alternating silsesquioxane and bridging group segments is provided. A difunctional silsesquioxane monomer of the formula Si.sub.8 R.sub.8 O.sub.11 (OA).sub.2 or Si.sub.7 R.sub.7 O.sub.9 (OSiR.sup.4 R.sup.5 R.sup.6) (OA).sub.2 is reacted with a difunctional compound of the formula X-M-X which forms a bridging group for a time sufficient to condense the difunctional silsesquioxane monomers and bridging groups into a linear polymer containing alternating silsesquioxane and bridging group segments. The resulting linear copolymer is essentially free of impurities and has controllable properties through the proper selection of the monomeric starting materials.

Abstract: A process for preparation of reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and the subsequent synthesis of polysilsesquioxanes which produce high yield, tractable polymers containing silsesquioxane segments is provided. A trifunctional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane of the formula Si.sub.7 R.sub.7 O.sub.9 (OA).sub.3 is corner capped by reacting it with a compound of the formula M-Z to form a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane which can be reacted in various ways with oligomers, polymers, catalysts, or co-monomers to form polyhedral silsesquioxane polymers containing silsesquioxanes as pendant, block, or end group segments. The resulting polymers are essentially free of impurities and have controllable properties through the proper selection of the synthesis process and starting materials.

Abstract: A synthesis process for polysilsesquioxanes which produces a high yield, tractable copolymer of perfectly alternating silsesquioxane and bridging group segments is provided. A difunctional silsesquioxane monomer of the formula Si.sub.8 R.sub.8 O.sub.11 (OA).sub.2 or Si.sub.7 R.sub.7 O.sub.9 (OSiR.sup.4 R.sup.5 R.sup.6)(OA).sub.2 is reacted with a difunctional compound of the formula X--M--X which forms a bridging group for a time sufficient to condense the difunctional silsesquioxane monomers and bridging groups into a linear polymer containing alternating silsesquioxane and bridging group segments. The resulting linear copolymer is essentially free of impurities and has controllable properties through the proper selection of the monomeric starting materials.