Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296634
Title: Microwave-assisted synthesis of cyclodextrin polyurethanes

Author
item Biswas, Atanu
item Appell, Michael
item Liu, Zengshe - Kevin
item Cheng, Huai

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Polymers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2015
Publication Date: 6/23/2015
Citation: Biswas, A., Appell, M., Liu, Z., Cheng, H.N. 2015. Microwave-assisted synthesis of cyclodextrin polyurethanes. Carbohydrate Polymers. 133:74-79. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.06.044.

Interpretive Summary: Cyclodextrins (CD’s) are a well known starch derived material. We developed a microwave-assisted method to modify the CD molecule with a class of reagents called diisocyanates to produce polyurethanes. As compared to conventional heating, this new synthetic method saves energy, significantly reduced reaction time, and yet improved the product yield. The reaction products have been fully characterized with NMR spectroscopy. Our modified CD could complex with a variety of substances, e.g., drug molecules for improved solubility or controlled release, fragrance molecules for controlled release, cholesterol removal in food industry, and removal of toxic substances from the environment. It also has a potential to be used for detection of mycotoxin for food safety applications.

Technical Abstract: Cyclodextrin (CD) has often been incorporated into polyurethanes in order to facilitate its use in encapsulation or removal of organic species for various applications. In this work a microwave-assisted method has been developed to produce polyurethanes consisting of alpha-, ß-, and gamma-CD and three common diisocyanates. As compared to conventional heating, this new synthetic method saves energy, significantly reduces reaction time, and gets similar or improved the product yield. The reaction products have been fully characterized with 13C, 1H, and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. With suitable stoichiometry of starting CD and diisocyanate, the resulting CD polyurethane is organic-soluble and water-insoluble and is shown to remove Nile red dye and phenol from water. Possible applications include the removal of undesirable materials from process streams, toxic compounds from the environment, and encapsulation of color or fragrance molecules.