Isoprene is a colorless, volatile liquid that is soluble in most hydrocarbons but is practically insoluble in water. Isoprene forms binary azeotropes with water, methanol, methylamine, acetonitrile, methyl formate, bromoethane, ethyl alcohol, methyl sulfide, acetone, propylene oxide, ethyl formate, isopropyl nitrate, methylal, ethyl ether, and n ‐pentane. The exact conformation of the isoprene molecule is still in doubt. It generally is accepted that there is no free rotation around the central C–C single bond. Isoprene may be considered as an equilibrium of two conformations, namely a cisoid conformation in which both vinyl groups are located on the same side of the C–C bond, and the transoid one with the vinyl groups located on the opposite sides of the bond. Physical properties, polymerization, production, economic aspects, and health and safety factors are described.

Isoprene is a colorless, volatile liquid that is soluble in most hydrocarbons, but is practically insoluble in water. The isoprene unit exists extensively in nature. It is found in terpenes, camphors, Vitamin A and K, chlorophyll and other compounds isolated from plants and animals. Isoprene is highly reactive and its reactions are similar to those of butadiene. Russia dominates the world in terms of high purity isoprene capacity, production, and consumption. A principal route for the production of isoprene is recovery from ethylene by‐products streams. High purity isoprene is used almost in its entirety to produce polyisoprene. Isoprene emissions play an dominant role in atmospheric chemistry.

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Properties Reactions Production Health and Safety Economic Aspects and Applications