Selective synthesis of curdlan ω-carboxyamides by Staudinger ylide nucleophilic ring-opening

Chemoselective modification of polysaccharides is a significant challenge, and regioselective modification is even more difficult, due to the low and similar reactivity of the various polysaccharide hydroxyl groups. Bromination of glycans that possess free 6-OH groups is exceptional in that regard, giving regiospecific, high-yield access to 6-bromo-6-deoxyglycans. Herein we report a simple and efficient pathway for synthesizing 6-ω-carboxyalkanamido-6-deoxy-containing polysaccharide derivatives in a sequence starting from 6-bromo-6-deoxycurdlan, via azide displacement, then conversion of the azide to the iminophosphorane ylide by triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P). We take advantage of the nucleophilicity of the iminophosphorane nitrogen by subsequent regioselective ring-opening reactions of cyclic anhydrides. These reactions of the useful polysaccharide curdlan were essentially completely regio- and chemo-selective, proceeding under mild conditions in the presence of ester groups, yet preserving those groups. These interesting polysaccharide-based materials have pendant carboxyls attached through a hydrocarbon tether and hydrolytically stable amide linkage; as such they are promising for diverse application areas, including aqueous dispersions for coatings, adhesives, and other consumer products, and for amorphous solid dispersions in oral drug delivery.