Preparation of trans, trans muconic acid and trans, trans muconates

1. A method for preparing trans,trans muconic acid comprising contacting one or more of cis,cis muconic acid and cis,trans muconic acid in the presence of one or more isomerization catalysts, without ultraviolet radiation, in one or more solvents for a period of time such that one or more of cis,cis muconic acid and cis,trans muconic acid isomerize to trans,trans muconic acid, wherein the one or more isomerization catalysts are selected from one or more of halides, dialkyl peroxides, alkyl peroxides, aroyl peroxides, peroxy esters and azo compounds, or a combination thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the contacting is performed at a temperature from about 60° C. to about 150° C.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein the one or more isomerization catalysts is present in an amount of about 0.0001 equivalents to about 1.0 equivalents based on the equivalents of the one or more of cis,cis muconic acid and cis,trans muconic acid.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein the cis,cis muconic acid is converted to cis,trans muconic acid before being contacted with the one or more isomerization catalysts.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the cis,cis muconic acid is prepared by microbial synthesis.

6. A method for preparing trans,trans dialkyl muconate comprising contacting the trans,trans muconic acid prepared according to claim 1 with an esterifying alkanol in the presence of an acid under conditions such that trans,trans dialkyl muconate is formed.

7. A method of converting cis,cis muconic acid to trans,trans muconic acid comprising:

a) refluxing cis,cis muconic acid in water for about 10 to about 60 minutes;

b) cooling in water to a temperature at which the cis,trans isomer precipitates from water;

c) recovering the cis,trans muconic acid; and

d) contacting the cis,trans muconic acid with one or more isomerization catalysts, without ultraviolet radiation, in a solvent for a period of time such that the cis,trans muconic acid isomerizes to the trans,trans muconic acid, wherein the one or more isomerization catalysts are selected from one or more of halides, dialkyl peroxides, alkyl peroxides, aroyl peroxides, peroxy esters and azo compounds, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 7 wherein the one or more isomerization catalysts is iodine.

9. A method of claim 7 wherein in step b) the temperature is about 0° C. to about 40° C.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein in step a) the cis,cis muconic acid is prepared by microbial synthesis.

11. A method for preparing trans,trans dihydrocarbyl muconate comprising:

a) contacting cis,cis muconic acid with an esterifying agent in the presence of an acid under conditions such that one or more of cis,cis and cis,trans dihydrocarbyl muconates are formed;

b) recovering the one or more of cis,cis and cis,trans diydrocarbyl muconates; and

c) contacting the one or more of cis,cis and cis,trans dihydrocarbyl muconates with one or more isomerization catalysts, without ultraviolet radiation, in a solvent for a period of time such that the one or more of cis,cis and cis,trans dihydrocarbyl muconate isomerizes to trans,trans dihydrocarbyl muconate, wherein the one or more isomerization catalysts are selected from one or more of halides, dialkyl peroxides, alkyl peroxides, aroyl peroxides, peroxy esters and azo compounds, or a combination thereof.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the esterifying agent in step a) is one or more hydroxyl containing hydrocarbon compounds which are capable of esterifying the carboxylic acid groups of the cis,cis muconic acid.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein step a) is performed at a temperature of about 23° C. to about 200° C.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the cis,cis muconic acid is prepared by microbial synthesis.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the contacting is performed at reflux of the solvent.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is tetrahydrofuran, alkyl substituted tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, or acetonitrile.

17. A method according to claim 7 wherein in step d) the contacting is performed at reflux of the solvent.

18. A method according to claim 7 wherein in step d) the solvent is tetrahydrofuran, alkyl substituted tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, or acetonitrile.

19. A method according to claim 11 wherein in step c) the contacting is performed at reflux of the solvent.

20. A method according to claim 11 wherein in step c) the solvent is tetrahydrofuran, alkyl substituted tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, or acetonitrile.

21. A method for preparing trans,trans muconic acid, comprising contacting one or both of cis,cis and cis,trans muconic acid with an isomerization catalyst, without ultraviolet radiation, in a solvent heated to reflux, such that the one or both of cis,cis and cis,trans muconic acid isomerizes to trans,trans muconic acid, wherein the one or more isomerization catalysts are selected from one or more of halides, dialkyl peroxides, alkyl peroxides, aroyl peroxides, peroxy esters and azo compounds, or a combination thereof.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the solvent is tetrahydrofuran, methonal, or acetonitrile.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein the cis,cis muconic acid is prepared by microbial synthesis.