Abstract
Natural rubber is an important strategic raw material for
manufacturing a wide variety of industrial products. There are at least 2,500
different latex-producing plant species; however, only Hevea brasiliensis
(the Brazilian rubber tree) is a commercial source. The chemical structure
of natural rubber is cis-1,4-polyisoprene, but the exact structure of the head
and end groups remains unknown. Since synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprenes
cannot match the superior properties of natural rubber, understanding the
chemistry behind the biosynthetic process is key to finding a possible
replacement. T his chapter summarizes our current understandings from the
perspective of a polymer scientist by comparing synthetic polyisoprenes to
natural rubber. The chapter also highlights ‘biomimetic’ polymerization,
research towards a synthetic match of natural rubber and the role of natural
rubber in health care.