Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

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 method for making cyclopentadiene fuels comprising producing cyclopent-2-en-1-one or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one from a bio-based source. The cyclopent-2-en-1-one or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one is hydrogenated, thereby forming cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol. The cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol is dehydrated with a dehydrating agent, thereby forming cyclopentadiene or a mixture of cyclopentadiene. The cyclopentadiene or mixture of cyclopentadiene is converted to dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene. The dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene is hydrogenated, thereby forming tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene. The tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is isomerized, thereby forming exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene.

A method for making cyclopentadiene fuels comprising producing cyclopent-2-en-1-one or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one from a bio-based source. The cyclopent-2-en-1-one or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one is hydrogenated, thereby forming cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol. The cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol is dehydrated with a dehydrating agent, thereby forming cyclopentadiene or a mixture of cyclopentadiene. The cyclopentadiene or mixture of cyclopentadiene is converted to dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene. The dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene is hydrogenated, thereby forming tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene. The tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is isomerized, thereby forming exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene.

A method for making cyclopentadiene fuels comprising producing cyclopent-2-en-1-one or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one from a bio-based source. The cyclopent-2-en-1-one or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one is hydrogenated, thereby forming cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol. The cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol is dehydrated with a dehydrating agent, thereby forming cyclopentadiene or a mixture of cyclopentadiene. The cyclopentadiene or mixture of cyclopentadiene is converted to dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene. The dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene is hydrogenated, thereby forming tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene. The tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is isomerized, thereby forming exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene.

A method of hydrogenating unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups is provided, which includes introducing hydrogen to an unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups in the presence of a catalyst to hydrogenate the alkene or alkyne group of the unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups without hydrogenating the carboxylic acid groups of the unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups. The catalyst includes a support, and palladium and metal oxide loaded on the support.

A method of hydrogenating unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups is provided, which includes introducing hydrogen to an unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups in the presence of a catalyst to hydrogenate the alkene or alkyne group of the unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups without hydrogenating the carboxylic acid groups of the unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups. The catalyst includes a support, and palladium and metal oxide loaded on the support.

A method of hydrogenating unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups is provided, which includes introducing hydrogen to an unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups in the presence of a catalyst to hydrogenate the alkene or alkyne group of the unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups without hydrogenating the carboxylic acid groups of the unsaturated compound with multi-carboxylic acid groups. The catalyst includes a support, and palladium and metal oxide loaded on the support.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.