Polymers with pendent functional groups VII. Polysaccharide derivatives containing viologen groups

The paper presents the synthesis of new polysaccharide derivatives containi ng viologen groups, by reaction of chloroacetylated crosslinked dextran mic roparticles with dipyridyl compounds as: 4,4 ' dipyridyl. N-n-octyidipyridi nium chloride and N-benzyldipyridinium chloride. The influence of the reaction conditions on the substitution degree with di pyridyl groups was discussed and a reaction mechanism was proposed. Some pr eliminary studies concerning antimicrobial activity of the polymeric dipyri dyl compounds were also reported. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.