Chitotriazolan (poly(β(1-4)-2-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2-deoxy-d-glucose)) derivatives: Synthesis, characterization,...

Here we describe the first synthesis of a new type of polysaccharides derived from chitosan. In these structures, the 2-amino group on the pyranose ring was quantitively replaced by an aromatic 1,2,3-triazole moiety. The 2-amino group of chitosan and di-TBDMS chitosan was converted into an azide by diazo transfer reaction. The chitosan azide and TBDMS-chitosan azide were poorly soluble but could be fully converted to triazoles by "copper-catalysed Huisgen cycloaddition" in DMF or DMSO. The reaction could be done with different alkynes but derivatives lacking cationic or anionic groups were poorly soluble or insoluble in tested aqueous and organic solvents. Derivatives with N,N-dimethylaminomethyl, N,N,N-trimethylammoniummethyl, sulfonmethyl, and phosphomethyl groups linked to the 4-position of the triazole moiety were soluble in water at neutral or basic conditions and could be analyzed by ¹H, ¹³C APT, COSY, and HSQC NMR. The quaternized cationic chitotriazolan's had high activity against S. aureus and E. coli, whereas the anionic chitotriazolan's lacked activity.