Microbial cis-3,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol, Its Polymer Poly(p-phenylene), and Applications

Abstract

This chapter describes the production of cis-3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol (DHCD) from aromatic compounds, their polymerization into poly(p-phenyelene) (or PPP), and the properties and applications of the polymer. Large-scale synthesis of DHCD has been demonstrated, and DHCD is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in chemical industries for polymer productions. Recent study including different types of dioxygenases, strain development by recombination, and genetical modification were done to develop the process technology for commercialization of this new polymer and chemical intermediates.