Cinnamyl modification research of chitosan and chitin

Cinnamyl group that bears excellent UV absorbing ability was grafted onto the chain of natural polymer chitosan and chitin, in methane-sulfonic acid system. Chitosan cinnamate and chitin cinnamate were prepared. The expected molecular structure of chitosan cinnamate and chitin cinnamate can be confirmed by FT-IR. It is shown from the WXRD that crystallinity of chitosan and chitin are decreased greatly after the acidylate reaction. It can be seen from the UV spectrum that the chitosan cinnamate bears excellent capacity of ultraviolet absorption. The solubility of the products was also studied.