CP/MAS‐¹³C‐NMR Spectra of Sclerotized Insect Cuticle and of Chitin

Abstract

A nondestructive method for investigating the exoskeleton of insects has facilitated structural information to be gained about the insoluble, fully sclerotized cuticle and about the highly polymeric chitin. It was known that the exoskeleton consists of chitin, proteins, and polyarenes. In contrast to previous suppositions, however, the transformation products of sclerotizating agents with 3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl groups are predominantly present in the reduced state.