Sugar-Based Polyamides: Self-Organization in Strong Polar Organic Solvents.

Periodic patterns resembling spirals were observed to form spontaneously upon unassisted cooling of d-glucaric acid- and d-galactaric acid-based polyamide solutions in N-methyl-N-morpholine oxide (NMMO) monohydrate. Similar observations were made in d-galactaric acid-based polyamide/ionic liquid (IL) solutions. The morphologies were investigated by optical, polarized light and confocal microscopy assays to reveal pattern details.

Biocomposite films prepared from ionic liquid solutions of chitosan and cellulose.

Blends of chitosan and cellulose were successfully produced using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIMAc) as solvent media. Films were prepared from the blends by manually spreading the solution on a flat surface and precipitating the polymers in a mixture of methanol and water. To prevent the shrinkage of films, most of the absorbed water was removed by freeze drying under vacuum.

Quaternization of N-aryl chitosan derivatives: synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity.

Chemical modification of chitosan by introducing quaternary ammonium moieties into the polymer backbone renders excellent antimicrobial activity to the adducts. In the present study, we have synthesized 17 derivatives of chitosan consisting of a variety of N-aryl substituents bearing either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups. Selective N-arylation of chitosan was performed via Schiff bases formed by the reaction between the 2-amino groups of the glucosamine residue of chitosan with aromatic aldehydes under acidic conditions, followed by reduction of the Schiff base intermediates with sodium cyanoborohydride.

Synthesis and characterization of N-aryl chitosan derivatives.

Selective N-arylation of chitosan was performed via a Schiff bases formed by the reaction between the 2-amino group of glucosamine residue of chitosan with an aromatic aldehyde under acidic condition followed by reduction of the Schiff base intermediate with sodium cyanoborohydride (Borch reduction). Aromatic aldehydes bearing either an electron donating or electron withdrawing substituent were used. The chemical structures and thermal properties of the N-aryl chitosans were characterized by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, TGA, and DSC.

Synthesis and characterization of a trifunctional aminoamide cellulose derivative.

As part of an effort to synthesize a dendronized cellulose, we have synthesized a trifunctional aminoamide derivative, which is the first generation of a dendron substituent. We anticipate that a dendronized cellulose would have applications in complexing metals and could be employed as an adjuvant for drugs. The trifunctional aminoamide substituent was introduced by coupling di-tert-butyl 4-[2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-4-aminoheptanedicarboxylate, BA, directly to a (carboxymethyl)cellulose (CMC) backbone and converting the tert-butyl ester peripheral groups to aminoamide substituents by use of N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine.