Use of acyl phosphonates for the synthesis of inulin esters and their use as emulsion stabilizing agents.

Inulin, the polydisperse polyfructose, extracted from chicory, was modified via esterification with acyl phosphonates. The grafting of an acyl chain onto the inulin backbone under different conditions led to a highly efficient synthesis of a series of inulin esters, with interesting tensioactive properties. The derivatives were evaluated in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions with isoparaffinic oil, Isopar M.

Enhancement of fungicidal and insecticidal activity by reductive alkylation of chitosan.

A series of N-alkyl chitosan (NAC) derivatives were synthesized using a reductive alkylation reaction to examine their fungicidal and insecticidal activity. The chemical structures were characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and the degree of substitution (DS) ranged from 0.02 to 0.

Application of ethoxylated inulin in water-blown polyurethane foams.

Inulin, a polydisperse reserve polysaccharide from chicory, was chemically modified via alkoxylation using ethylene oxide, in a water free medium. The reaction resulted in a range of products with very distinct properties, such as a highly increased water solubility, moderate surface-active properties and high cloud points in electrolyte media. Because of the unique characteristics of inulin, such as its molecular weight range, and because of the high water solubility of the ethoxylates, the products were evaluated as additive in water-blown polyurethane foams.

Insecticidal and fungicidal activity of new synthesized chitosan derivatives.

Chitosan, the N-deacetylated derivative of chitin, is a potential biopolysaccharide owing to its specific structure and properties. In this paper, we report on the synthesis of 24 new chitosan derivatives, N-alkyl chitosans (NAC) and N-benzyl chitosans (NBC), that are soluble in dilute aqueous acetic acid. The different derivatives were synthesized by reductive amination and analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of new N,O-acyl chitosan derivatives.

Novel N,O-acyl chitosan (NOAC) derivatives were synthesized to examine their fungicidal activity against the gray mould fungus Botrytis cinerea (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae (Teleomorph: Magnaporth grisea). The fungicidal activity was evaluated by the radial growth bioassay. NOAC derivatives were more active against the two plant pathogens than chitosan itself, and the effect was concentration dependent.