A rigid foam or a composition allowing a rigid foam to be obtained, including a polyester polyol or a polymer including a polyester polyol, the polyester polyol being obtained by a first polycondensation (a) of a C3 to C8 sugar alcohol Z and two identical or different C4 to C36 diacids Y and Y′ and a second polycondensation (b) of the product obtained in (a) with two identical or different C2 to C12 diols X and X′.

A rigid foam or a composition allowing a rigid foam to be obtained, including a polyester polyol or a polymer including a polyester polyol, the polyester polyol being obtained by a first polycondensation (a) of a C3 to C8 sugar alcohol Z and two identical or different C4 to C36 diacids Y and Y′ and a second polycondensation (b) of the product obtained in (a) with two identical or different C2 to C12 diols X and X′.

Disclosed are methods or processes of synthesizing building blocks and feedstocks for producing a broader range of polymers, including renewable polymers, from renewable resources such as CO.sub.2. In a process of manufacturing a renewable feedstock for polymer production, a CO.sub.2 derived lactone is prepared and processed to form the renewable feedstock. The process may include alkoxycarbonylation of the CO.sub.2 derived lactone to form a diester and hydrogenation of the diester.

Disclosed are methods or processes of synthesizing building blocks and feedstocks for producing a broader range of polymers, including renewable polymers, from renewable resources such as CO.sub.2. In a process of manufacturing a renewable feedstock for polymer production, a CO.sub.2 derived lactone is prepared and processed to form the renewable feedstock. The process may include alkoxycarbonylation of the CO.sub.2 derived lactone to form a diester and hydrogenation of the diester.

A compound, represented by Formula (1): where X represents an isopropyl group or a t-butyl group, and R represents a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; provided that one where X is an isopropyl group, and R is a t-butyl group is excluded.

##STR00001##

A compound, represented by Formula (1): where X represents an isopropyl group or a t-butyl group, and R represents a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; provided that one where X is an isopropyl group, and R is a t-butyl group is excluded.

##STR00001##

An organic compound, a three-dimensional organic structure formed by using the organic compound, a separation sieve and an optical layer having the organic structure, and an optical device having the optical layer as an optical amplification layer are provided. The organic structure includes a plurality of organic molecules self-assembled by non-covalent bonding. Each of the unit organic molecules has an aromatic ring, a first pair of substituents being connected to immediately adjacent positions of substitutable positions of the aromatic ring, and a second pair of substituents being connected to immediately adjacent positions of remaining substitutable positions of the aromatic ring. The unit organic molecules are self-assembled by van der Waals interaction, London dispersion interaction or hydrogen bonding between the first and the second pairs of the substituents and by pi-pi interactions between the aromatic rings.

An organic compound, a three-dimensional organic structure formed by using the organic compound, a separation sieve and an optical layer having the organic structure, and an optical device having the optical layer as an optical amplification layer are provided. The organic structure includes a plurality of organic molecules self-assembled by non-covalent bonding. Each of the unit organic molecules has an aromatic ring, a first pair of substituents being connected to immediately adjacent positions of substitutable positions of the aromatic ring, and a second pair of substituents being connected to immediately adjacent positions of remaining substitutable positions of the aromatic ring. The unit organic molecules are self-assembled by van der Waals interaction, London dispersion interaction or hydrogen bonding between the first and the second pairs of the substituents and by pi-pi interactions between the aromatic rings.

The present disclosure provides processes for producing alkylated fatty acids and derivatives thereof. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing a terminal alkyl transferase and a fatty acid into a bioreactor. The process includes introducing an internal methyl transferase and internal methyl reductase into the bioreactor or a second bioreactor. The process includes obtaining an alkylated fatty acid having a methyl substituent located at an internal carbon atom of the fatty acid and a methyl substituent or ethyl substituent located at a carbon atom alpha to the terminal carbon atom of the fatty acid.

The present disclosure provides processes for producing alkylated fatty acids and derivatives thereof. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing a terminal alkyl transferase and a fatty acid into a bioreactor. The process includes introducing an internal methyl transferase and internal methyl reductase into the bioreactor or a second bioreactor. The process includes obtaining an alkylated fatty acid having a methyl substituent located at an internal carbon atom of the fatty acid and a methyl substituent or ethyl substituent located at a carbon atom alpha to the terminal carbon atom of the fatty acid.