Diblock oligosaccharides based on renewable resources allow for a range of new but, so far, little explored biomaterials. Coupling of blocks through their reducing ends ensures retention of many of their intrinsic properties that otherwise are perturbed in classical lateral modifications. Chitin is an abundant, biodegradable, bioactive, and self-assembling polysaccharide. However, most coupling protocols relevant for chitin blocks have shortcomings. Here we exploit the highly reactive 2,5-anhydro-Dmannose residue at the reducing end of chitin oligomers obtained by nitrous acid depolymerization. Subsequent activation by dihydrazides or dioxyamines provides precursors for chitin-based diblock oligosaccharides. These reactions are much faster than for other carbohydrates, and only acyclic imines (hydrazones or oximes) are formed (no cyclic N-glycosides). α-Picoline borane and cyanoborohydride are effective reductants of imines, but in contrast to most other carbohydrates, they are not selective for the imines in the present case. This could be circumvented by a simple two-step procedure. Attachment of a second block to hydrazideor aminooxy-functionalized chitin oligomers turned out to be even faster than the attachment of the first block. The study provides simple protocols for the preparation of chitin-b-chitin and chitin-b-dextran diblock oligosaccharides without involving protection/ deprotection strategies.
Reducing end activation of poly-and oligosaccharides by bifunctional dioxyamines and dihydrazides enables aniline-free and cyanoborohydride-free conjugation to aldehyde-containing molecules, particles and surfaces without compromising the chain structure. Chitosans are due to their polycationic character, biodegradability, and bioactivity important candidates for conjugation. Here, we present a kinetic and structural study of the conjugation of a dioxyamine and a dihydrazide to enzymatically produced chitooligosaccharides ranging from N,N'-diacetylchitobiose to a decamer, all having N-acetyl D-glucosamine at the reducing end. Conjugation of the dioxyamine resulted in mixtures of (E)-and (Z)-oximes and β-Npyranoside, whereas the dihydrazide yielded cyclic N-glycosides. Reaction kinetics was essentially independent of DP. Stable secondary amines were in both cases obtained by reduction with α-picoline borane, but higher temperatures were needed to obtain acceptable reduction rate. Comparison to dextran oligomers shows that the nature of the reducing end strongly influences the kinetics of both the conjugation and reduction.
Renewable resources can provide a range of different polysaccharide blocks that can be used to prepare new types of stimuli-responsive polysaccharide-based block copolymers. Alginates are natural polysaccharides widely used as...
Engineered block polysaccharides is a relatively new class of biomacromolecules consisting of chemical assembly of separate block structures at the chain termini. In contrast to conventional, laterally substituted polysaccharide derivatives, the block arrangement allows for much higher preservation of inherent chain properties such as biodegradability and stimuli-responsive self-assembly, while at the same time inducing new macromolecular properties. Abundant, carbon neutral, and even recalcitrant biomass is an excellent source of blocks, opening for numerous new uses of biomass for a wide range of novel biomaterials. Among a limited range of methodologies available for block conjugation, bifunctional linkers allowing for oxyamine and hydrazide 'click' reactions have recently proven useful additions to the repertoire. This article focuses the chemistry and kinetics of these reactions. It also presents some new data with the aim to provide useful protocols and methods for general use towards new block polysaccharides.
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