Vapor phosphorylation of cellulose by phosphorus trichlo-ride: Selective phosphorylation of 6-hydroxyl function—the synthesis of new antimicrobial cellulose 6-phosphate(iii)-copper complexes

Abstract

This research is focused on a synthesis of copper-cellulose phosphates antimicrobial com-plexes. Vapor-phase phosphorylations of cellulose were achieved by exposing microcrystalline cellulose to phosphorus trichloride (PCl3 ) vapors. The cellulose-O-dichlorophosphines (Cell-O-PCl2 ) formed were hydrolyzed to cellulose-O-hydrogenphosphate (P(III)) (Cell-O-P(O)(H)(OH)), which, in turn, were converted into corresponding copper(II) complexes (Cell-O-P(O)(H)(OH)·Cu2+). The analysis of the complexes Cell-O-P(O)(H)(OH)·Cu2+ covered: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), atomic absorption spectrometry with flame excitation (FAAS), and bioactivity tests against representative Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). The antimicrobial tests of synthesized Cell-O-P(O)(H)(OH)·Cu2+ revealed their potential applications as an antibacterial material.