Aspects of the present invention relate to polymers, and particularly to farnesene polymers functionalized with one or more oxirane groups and, optionally, one or more hydroxyl groups. According to one aspect of the invention, provided is an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The epoxidized farnesene polymer has at least one of a side chain or a main backbone functionalized with at least one oxirane group and, optionally, at least one terminal end functionalized with a hydroxyl group. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for preparing an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The method includes epoxidizing a farnesene polymer, which may optionally contain one or more terminal hydroxyl groups, to functionalize at least one of a side chain or a main backbone of the farnesene polymer with an oxirane group.

A macromonomer precursor is provided that includes a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and a single functional terminal end. The functional terminal end may include a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an isocyanato group, or a carboxylic acid group. The terminal end of the macromonomer precursor may then be reacted with a (meth)acrylate to form a macromonomer having a (meth)acrylate functionalized terminal end that may be (co)polymerized with radically polymerizable monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers. Alternatively, a copolymer may be obtained by first deriving a poly(meth)acrylate from (meth)acrylate monomers having reactive groups that would allow the macromonomer precursors to be grafted onto the poly(meth)acrylate in a second step. The resulting copolymer may be incorporated as an additive in various formulations, such as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid, a cosmetic composition, and an adhesive composition.

A macromonomer precursor is provided that includes a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and a single functional terminal end. The functional terminal end may include a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an isocyanato group, or a carboxylic acid group. The terminal end of the macromonomer precursor may then be reacted with a (meth)acrylate to form a macromonomer having a (meth)acrylate functionalized terminal end that may be (co)polymerized with radically polymerizable monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers. Alternatively, a copolymer may be obtained by first deriving a poly(meth)acrylate from (meth)acrylate monomers having reactive groups that would allow the macromonomer precursors to be grafted onto the poly(meth)acrylate in a second step. The resulting copolymer may be incorporated as an additive in various formulations, such as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid, a cosmetic composition, and an adhesive composition.

A macromonomer precursor is provided that includes a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and a single functional terminal end. The functional terminal end may include a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an isocyanato group, or a carboxylic acid group. The terminal end of the macromonomer precursor may then be reacted with a (meth)acrylate to form a macromonomer having a (meth)acrylate functionalized terminal end that may be (co)polymerized with radically polymerizable monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers. Alternatively, a copolymer may be obtained by first deriving a poly(meth)acrylate from (meth)acrylate monomers having reactive groups that would allow the macromonomer precursors to be grafted onto the poly(meth)acrylate in a second step. The resulting copolymer may be incorporated as an additive in various formulations, such as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid, a cosmetic composition, and an adhesive composition.

A macromonomer precursor is provided that includes a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and a single functional terminal end. The functional terminal end may include a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an isocyanato group, or a carboxylic acid group. The terminal end of the macromonomer precursor may then be reacted with a (meth)acrylate to form a macromonomer having a (meth)acrylate functionalized terminal end that may be (co)polymerized with radically polymerizable monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers. Alternatively, a copolymer may be obtained by first deriving a poly(meth)acrylate from (meth)acrylate monomers having reactive groups that would allow the macromonomer precursors to be grafted onto the poly(meth)acrylate in a second step. The resulting copolymer may be incorporated as an additive in various formulations, such as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid, a cosmetic composition, and an adhesive composition.

The present disclosure provides novel polypeptides with 3-buten-2-ol dehydratase activity, polypeptides with catalytic activity in the conversion of 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol to isoprene, and crystal structure data for one of such polypeptides. Methods of making and using the polypeptides and their related crystal structure data are also provided.

The present disclosure provides novel polypeptides with 3-buten-2-ol dehydratase activity, polypeptides with catalytic activity in the conversion of 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol to isoprene, and crystal structure data for one of such polypeptides. Methods of making and using the polypeptides and their related crystal structure data are also provided.

The present invention provides a 1,3,7-octatriene polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution and a hydride thereof. Specifically, the 1,3,7-octatriene polymer is a polymer containing a structural unit derived from 1,3,7-octatriene, wherein the polymer has not only a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 2.05 or less but also a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,000 to 1,000,000.

The present invention provides a 1,3,7-octatriene polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution and a hydride thereof. Specifically, the 1,3,7-octatriene polymer is a polymer containing a structural unit derived from 1,3,7-octatriene, wherein the polymer has not only a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 2.05 or less but also a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,000 to 1,000,000.

The present disclosure provides novel polypeptides with 3-buten-2-ol dehydratase activity, polypeptides with catalytic activity in the conversion of 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol to isoprene, and crystal structure data for one of such polypeptides. Methods of making and using the polypeptides and their related crystal structure data are also provided.