Polyhydroxyalkanoates containing a vinylphenyl structure in their side chain and method of manufacturing the same

摘要

A polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) having a desired configuration is produced using a raw material containing omega -(4-vinylphenyl)-alkanoic acid and omega -substituted alkanoic acid in which a group having a ring structure selected from phenyl, thienyl, and cyclohexyl structures substitutes therefor on the end thereof by producing a PHA copolymer containing the corresponding 3-hydroxy- omega -(4-vinylphenyl)-alkanoate unit and the corresponding 3-hydroxy- omega -substituted alkanoate unit by making use of a microorganism capable of producing the PHA or by oxidizing a predetermined portion of the corresponding PHA.