Glucose-based block-co-oligomers with mixed alpha/beta configuration

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Cordt Zollfrank
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: Funded in 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 416720146

Cellulose and starch (amylose) are the most important polysaccharides and are of paramount significance for manufacturing biogenic materials from renewable resources. Both biopolymers are composed solely of glucose as the monomeric unit (anhydroglucose AGU), which are linearly linked without any branching. The only difference between cellulose and starch is the stereochemical configuration ate the anomeric C1-carbon atom of the AGE. Two AGE in cellulose are linked via a beta-1,4-glycosidic bond, whereas an alpha-1,4-glycosidic bond is found in starch. This results in totally different secondary structures and properties of the two polysaccharides. The aim of the present short project is the synthesis of all-glucose block-co-oligomers (as a proof-of-concept), where on block exhibits an alpha-configuration and the other block the beta-configuration. Form the combination of these compounds with two blocks bearing different structural characteristics, novel biogenic materials are expected. The glucose based oligomers alpha-maltotriose and -tetraose serve as a model compounds for starch, whereas beta-cellotriose und -tetraose are model compounds for cellulose. The chemical structures will be determined. Additionally, material properties such as viscoelastic characteristics will be evaluated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants