Patent ID: 7425432

Claim:
A polyhydroxy alkanoate copolymer comprising at least a 3-hydroxy-ω-alkenoic acid unit represented by a chemical formula (1) in a molecule, and simultaneously at least a 3-hydroxy-ω-alkanoic acid unit represented by a chemical formula (2) or a 3-hydroxy-ω-cyclohexylalkanoic acid unit represented by a chemical formula (3) in the molecule: chemical formula (1) in which n represents an integer selected within a range indicated in the chemical formula; and in case plural units are present, n is the same or different for each unit; chemical formula (2) in which m represents an integer selected within a range indicated in the chemical formula; R represents a residue having any of a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure; and in case plural units are present, m and R are the same or different for each unit; chemical formula (3) in which R 1 being a substituent on a cyclohexyl group represents a hydrogen atom, a CN group, a NO 2 group, a halogen atom, a CH 3 group, a C 2 H 5 group, a C 3 H 7 group, a CF 3 group, a C 2 F 5 group, or a C 3 F 7 group; k represents an integer selected within a range indicated in the chemical formula; and in case plural units are present, R 1 and k may be the same or different for each unit, wherein the polyhydroxy alkanoate copolymer is biosynthesized by using a microorganism capable of producing it with at least an ω-alkenoic acid represented by a chemical formula (24) and at least a compound represented by a chemical formula (25) or at least an ω-cyclohexylalkanoic acid represented by a chemical formula (26) as starting materials: chemical formula (24) in which p represents an integer selected within a range indicated in the chemical formula: chemical formula (25) in which q represents an integer selected within a range indicated in the chemical formula: and R 23 is a residue having a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure; and chemical formula (26) in which R 24 is a substituent on a cyclohexyl group and represents an H atom, a CN group, a NO 2 group, a halogen atom, a CH 3 group, a C 2 H 5 group, a C 3 H 7 group, a CF 3 group, a C 2 F 5 group, or a C 3 F 7 group: and r represents an integer selected within a range indicated in the chemical formula.