Alkynyl Ethers of Glucans: Substituent Distribution in Propargyl‐, Pentynyl‐ and Hexynyldextrans and ‐amyloses and Support for Silver Nanoparticle Formation

Abstract

Abstract Alkynyldextrans with a DS in the range 0.1–1.67 have been prepared as reactive intermediates for further polymer‐analogous functionalisation. DS and substituent distribution were determined by GLC and GLCMS after hydrolysis and acetylation, or methanolysis and trimethylsilylation. Reactivity was in the order O‐2 > O‐4 ≥ O‐3 with pronounced differences in the distinct patterns for propargyl ethers and its higher homologous. A large deviation from a random substituent distribution was observed. Propargyldextrans were not stable during long‐time storage in the solid state, while terminal pentynyl and hexynyl ethers are. Pentynyldextrans showed structure formation of various geometries. They bound silver efficiently, yielding silver nanoparticles by reduction. magnified image