This application describes methods, including non-naturally occurring methods, for biosynthesizing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coA and intermediates thereof, as well as non-naturally occurring hosts for producing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coA. This application also describes methods, including non-naturally occurring methods, for biosynthesizing isoprene and intermediates thereof, as well as non-naturally occurring hosts for producing isoprene.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms. In one aspect, a process comprises (a) hydroformylating a mixed C4 olefin stream, wherein the mixed C4 olefin stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, and optionally isobutene, with a hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises rhodium with monodentate organophosphorous ligand and optionally polydentate organophosphorous ligand, to produce a mixture comprising linear and branched C5 aldehydes; (b) separating the branched C5 aldehydes from the linear C5 aldehydes to provide a branched C5 aldehyde stream and a linear C5 aldehyde stream; (c) dehydrating the branched C5 aldehydes in the branched C5 aldehyde stream using a dehydration catalyst to form a stream comprising isoprene; (d) hydrogenating the linear C5 aldehydes in the linear C5 aldehyde stream to form a C5 alcohol stream; (e) dehydrating the C5 alcohols in the C5 alcohol stream with a second dehydration catalyst to form a C5 olefin stream; (f) hydroformylating the C5 olefins in the C5 olefin stream to generate a C6 aldehyde stream; (g) hydrogenating the C6 aldehydes in the C6 aldehyde stream to form a C6 alcohol stream; and (h) dehydrating the C6 alcohols in the C6 alcohol stream with a third dehydration catalyst to form a C6 olefin stream.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms. In one aspect, a process comprises (a) hydroformylating a mixed C4 olefin stream, wherein the mixed C4 olefin stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, and optionally isobutene, with a hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises rhodium with monodentate organophosphorous ligand and optionally polydentate organophosphorous ligand, to produce a mixture comprising linear and branched C5 aldehydes; (b) separating the branched C5 aldehydes from the linear C5 aldehydes to provide a branched C5 aldehyde stream and a linear C5 aldehyde stream; (c) dehydrating the branched C5 aldehydes in the branched C5 aldehyde stream using a dehydration catalyst to form a stream comprising isoprene; (d) hydrogenating the linear C5 aldehydes in the linear C5 aldehyde stream to form a C5 alcohol stream; (e) dehydrating the C5 alcohols in the C5 alcohol stream with a second dehydration catalyst to form a C5 olefin stream; (f) hydroformylating the C5 olefins in the C5 olefin stream to generate a C6 aldehyde stream; (g) hydrogenating the C6 aldehydes in the C6 aldehyde stream to form a C6 alcohol stream; and (h) dehydrating the C6 alcohols in the C6 alcohol stream with a third dehydration catalyst to form a C6 olefin stream.

The invention relates to a process comprising reacting mevalonic acid, or a solution comprising mevalonic acid, to yield a first product or first product mixture, optionally in the presence of a solid catalyst and/or at elevated temperature and/or pressure. The invention further relates to a process comprising: (a) providing a microbial organism that expresses a biosynthetic mevalonic acid pathway; (b) growing the microbial organism in fermentation medium comprising suitable carbon substrates, whereby biobased mevalonic acid is produced; and (c) reacting said biobased mevalonic acid to yield a first product or first product mixture.

The invention relates to a process comprising reacting mevalonic acid, or a solution comprising mevalonic acid, to yield a first product or first product mixture, optionally in the presence of a solid catalyst and/or at elevated temperature and/or pressure. The invention further relates to a process comprising: (a) providing a microbial organism that expresses a biosynthetic mevalonic acid pathway; (b) growing the microbial organism in fermentation medium comprising suitable carbon substrates, whereby biobased mevalonic acid is produced; and (c) reacting said biobased mevalonic acid to yield a first product or first product mixture.

Provided is a method of producing a conjugated diene, including a step of dehydrating a ,-unsaturated alcohol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst having a Hammett acidity function (H.sub.0) of 12.2 or less.

Provided is a method of producing a conjugated diene, including a step of dehydrating a ,-unsaturated alcohol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst having a Hammett acidity function (H.sub.0) of 12.2 or less.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for extracting isoprene using minimum capital investment, operating cost, and relatively corrosion free environment are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the invention are directed to producing pure isoprene and gasoline quality raffinate (free or sulfur and acetylenes) which are of value in manufacturing rubbers and other polymers.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for extracting isoprene using minimum capital investment, operating cost, and relatively corrosion free environment are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the invention are directed to producing pure isoprene and gasoline quality raffinate (free or sulfur and acetylenes) which are of value in manufacturing rubbers and other polymers.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for extracting isoprene using minimum capital investment, operating cost, and relatively corrosion free environment are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the invention are directed to producing pure isoprene and gasoline quality raffinate (free or sulfur and acetylenes) which are of value in manufacturing rubbers and other polymers.