Granted Patent B1

US 7,868,115 · App. 12/825,364 · Granted Jan 11, 2011

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A farnesene interpolymer comprising one or more polymer molecules having formula (X′):

wherein each of n and m is independently an integer from 1 to about 100,000; X has one or more of formulae (I′)-(VIII′):

Y has formula (IX′):

wherein R 1 has formula (XI):

R 2 has formula (XII):

R 3 has formula (XIII):

and

R 4 has formula (XIV):

wherein each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is independently H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, heterocyclyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, acyloxy, nitrile or halo, and wherein a mole percent ratio of X to Y is from about 1:4 to about 100:1.

2. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein one of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is aryl; and each of the other three of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is H.

3. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 2 , wherein the aryl is phenyl.

4. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 3 , wherein the farnesene interpolymer is a block farnesene interpolymer.

5. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 4 , wherein the block farnesene interpolymer according to formula X′ comprises one block of one or more X and two blocks each of one or more Y and wherein the one block of one or more X is between the two blocks each of one or more Y.

6. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is alkoxy, aryloxy, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, acyloxy, nitrile, or halo.

7. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein formula (I′) is in an amount of at most about 80 wt. %, based on a total weight of the farnesene interpolymer.

8. The farnesene interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein formula (II′) is in an amount from about 15 wt. % to about 99 wt. %, based on a total weight of the farnesene interpolymer.

9. A method of making the farnesene interpolymer according to claim 1 comprising copolymerizing a farnesene and at least one vinyl monomer in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a mole percent ratio of the farnesene to the at least one vinyl monomer is from about 1:4 to about 100:1, and wherein the vinyl monomer does not comprise an isoprene.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the farnesene is α-farnesene, β-farnesene or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one vinyl monomer is ethylene, an α-olefin, a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl halide, vinyl ether, acrylonitrile, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, acrylamide or methacrylamide or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one vinyl monomer is styrene.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the farnesene is prepared by a microorganism.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the farnesene is derived from a simple sugar.

15. A farnesene interpolymer prepared by the method of claim 9 .

16. A method of making the farnesene interpolymer according to claim 1 comprising:

(a) making a farnesene from a simple sugar by a microorganism; and

(b) copolymerizing the farnesene and at least one vinyl monomer in the presence of a catalyst.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a mole percent ratio of the farnesene to the vinyl monomer is from about 1:4 to about 100:1.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one vinyl monomer is ethylene, an α-olefin, or a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl halide, vinyl ether, acrylonitrile, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, acrylamide or methacrylamide, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one vinyl monomer is styrene.

20. A farnesene interpolymer prepared by the method of claim 16 .

Assignments (18)