SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF CHITIN PHOSPH ATE

A novel procedure for the preparation of phosphorylated chitin has bee n developed using squid beta-chitin and a reagent system of orthophosp horic acid-urea in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Regulation of the degr ee of substitution was found to be achieved by changing the ratio of u rea to DMF. The products with D.S. more than 0.25 were water soluble, and they precipitated on adsorption of calcium ions to form a water-in soluble gel and filament. Furthermore, the phosphorylated chitin promo ted blood coagulation.