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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Preparation of Expanded Chitin Foams and their Use in the Removal of Aqueous Copper
Published on: February 27, 2021
Synthesis of fluorinated chitin derivatives via enzymatic polymerization
Akira Makino1, Masashi Ohmae, Shiro Kobayashi
1Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
Abstract:
Synthesis of fluorinated chitin derivatives has been achieved using chitinase from Bacillus sp. as a catalyst. 6'-Fluoro- (1a), 6-fluoro- (1b) and 6,6'-difluoro- (1c) chitobiose oxazoline derivatives were newly prepared as TSAS monomers for chitinase. Ring-opening polyaddition of these monomers proceeded effectively at pH 8.0-9.0 and 30-40 degrees C, giving rise to alternatingly 6-fluorinated chitin derivatives (2a and 2b) from 1a and 1b, and fully 6-fluorinated chitin derivative (2c) from 1c under total control of regioselectivity and stereochemistry. XRD measurements revealed that polysaccharides 2a and 2b had crystalline structures similar to that of alpha-chitin. [reaction: see text]
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