Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring linear polysaccharide consisting of alternating D-glucuronic acid and fV-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues. Reaction of the carboxyl group of the glucuronate residues with 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino) propyl)carbodiimide (EDC) in the presence of primary amines yielded only the N-acylurea adducts rather than the expected amide coupling products. To determine the nature of this linkage unambiguously and to deduce the primary structure of the N-acylurea products, 13C- and 15N-labeled 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide were synthesized. The isotopically-labeled carbodiimides were coupled to the carboxyl group of HA (molecular size ca. 2000000 Da) in water at pH = 4.75. The modified polysaccharides were then isolated, purified, and examined by cross polarization and magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) solid-state 13C and 15N NMR. The chemical shifts and states of protonation of the nitrogens confirmed the presence of two isomeric N-acylureas in unequal amounts and ruled out the presence of any unrearranged O-acylurea product.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 5972-5976 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 114 |
Issue number | 15 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry