N-Acylchitosan Gel Preparation of Partially and Heterogeneously N-Acylated Chitosans

Abstract

A series of partially and heterogeneously N-acylated chitosans was prepared and isolated in 50_??_100% yields. The structure of N-acyl groups influenced the gelation. The minimum requirement for the gelation was defined as ca. 0.4 N-lauroyl (C₁₂), ca. 0.6 N-fatty acyl (C₃-C₁₀) or ca. 0.7 N-benzoyl groups per hexosaminide residue. However, the gelation did not occur with N-high fatty acyl (C₁₄-C₁₈) groups.