Provided are a terminally modified diene-based polymer having excellent mechanical properties, and also a method for producing the same. The terminally modified diene-based polymer is obtainable by allowing a diene-based polymer terminated with ketone or aldehyde groups to react with a heterocyclic compound that is a nitrogen-containing unsaturated five-membered ring or six-membered ring compound having a primary amine.

Provided are a terminally modified diene-based polymer having excellent mechanical properties, and also a method for producing the same. The terminally modified diene-based polymer is obtainable by allowing a diene-based polymer terminated with ketone or aldehyde groups to react with a heterocyclic compound that is a nitrogen-containing unsaturated five-membered ring or six-membered ring compound having a primary amine.

Provided are a terminally modified diene-based polymer having excellent mechanical properties and also a method for producing the same. The terminally modified diene-based polymer is obtainable by allowing a diene-based polymer terminated with ketone or aldehyde groups to react with an aminophosphonic acid compound represented by general formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in formulas (1) and (2), R.sub.1 and R.sub.4 each represent a C.sub.1-10 alkanediyl group, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be the same or different and each represent hydrogen, a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.8, and R.sub.9 may be the same or different and each represent hydrogen, a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group, and R.sub.7 represents hydrogen or a hydroxyl group.

Provided are a terminally modified diene-based polymer having excellent mechanical properties and also a method for producing the same. The terminally modified diene-based polymer is obtainable by allowing a diene-based polymer terminated with ketone or aldehyde groups to react with an aminophosphonic acid compound represented by general formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in formulas (1) and (2), R.sub.1 and R.sub.4 each represent a C.sub.1-10 alkanediyl group, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be the same or different and each represent hydrogen, a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.8, and R.sub.9 may be the same or different and each represent hydrogen, a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group, and R.sub.7 represents hydrogen or a hydroxyl group.

Disclosed is a functionalizing method for the end functionalisation of trans-1,4 stereo-regular polydiene chains obtained by the coordination catalytic polymerisation of at least one conjugated diene monomer. It also relates to a polydiene having a trans-1,4 chain formation rate of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, and an end functionalisation rate higher than 70%, preferably higher than 80%, and more preferably higher than 90%.

Disclosed is a functionalizing method for the end functionalisation of trans-1,4 stereo-regular polydiene chains obtained by the coordination catalytic polymerisation of at least one conjugated diene monomer. It also relates to a polydiene having a trans-1,4 chain formation rate of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, and an end functionalisation rate higher than 70%, preferably higher than 80%, and more preferably higher than 90%.

The present invention is directed to a non-vulcanized rubber composition which is comprised of (1) 90 phr to 100 phr cis 1,4-polyisoprene; (2) 10 phr to 40 phr of pre-silanized precipitated silica; (3) 10 phr to 40 phr of carbon black, (4) 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, and (5) 1 phr to 15 phr of a resinous reaction product of a methylene donor composition and a methylene acceptor composition. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire or tire component comprising the cured rubber composition.

The present invention is directed to a non-vulcanized rubber composition which is comprised of (1) 90 phr to 100 phr cis 1,4-polyisoprene; (2) 10 phr to 40 phr of pre-silanized precipitated silica; (3) 10 phr to 40 phr of carbon black, (4) 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, and (5) 1 phr to 15 phr of a resinous reaction product of a methylene donor composition and a methylene acceptor composition. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire or tire component comprising the cured rubber composition.

The present invention provides for a genetically modified host cell capable of producing isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol, comprising (a) an increased expression of phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMD) (b) an increased expression of a phosphatase capable of converting isopentenol into 3-methyl-3-butenol, (c) optionally the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of one or more of NudB, phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK), and/or PMD, and (d) optionally one or more further enzymes capable of converting isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol into a third compound, such as isoprene.

The present invention provides for a genetically modified host cell capable of producing isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol, comprising (a) an increased expression of phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMD) (b) an increased expression of a phosphatase capable of converting isopentenol into 3-methyl-3-butenol, (c) optionally the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of one or more of NudB, phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK), and/or PMD, and (d) optionally one or more further enzymes capable of converting isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol into a third compound, such as isoprene.