Efficient benzylation of chitin in ionic liquids

Abstract

In this study, an efficient benzylation of chitin using benzyl bromide in the presence of LiOH in ionic liquids was developed. Addition of amine bases, such as tributylamine, was found to promote the reaction and yield benzyl chitins with high degrees of substitution. Benzyl tributylammonium bromide, produced in situ, was shown to capably act as an effective phase-transfer catalyst.