Studies on chitin. II. Preparation of benzyl and benzoylchitins

Abstract

Chitin was converted into benzyl and also benzoylchitins. Benzylchitins up to 0.8 benzylated were prepared by the reaction of alkali chitin with benzyl chloride in dimethyl sulfoxide. The solubility of benzylchitins in organic solvents was not so good, because of the low degree of benzylation. Variously benzoylated chitins up to 1.8 mol benzoylated per residue were prepared by the benzoylation of chitin in a benzoyl chloride–methanesulfonic acid mixture at 0°C. Benzoylchitins were soluble in many organic solvents, e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide and benzyl alcohol, in addition to the acidic solvents such as formic acid. Infrared absorption spectra for benzyl and benzoylchitins were also investigated. © 1979, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.