Ab initio computational study of –N-C and –O-C bonding formation : functional group modification reaction based chitosan

Abstract

Chitosan application in pharmaceutics and cosmeceutics industries is limited by its solubility issue. Modification of -NH2 and -OH fuctional groups of chitosan by adding carboxyl group has been shown to improve its solubility and application. Attempt to synthesize carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) from monocloroacetic acid (MCAA) has been done prior this report. However no information is available wether –OH (-O-C bonding formation) or -NH2 (- N-C bonding formation) is the preference for - CH2COOH to attach. In the current study, the reaction mechanism between chitosan and MCAA reactants into carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) was examined by computational approach. Dimer from of chitosan used as a molecular model in calculation All the molecular structure involved in the reaction mechanism was optimized by ab initio computational on the theory and basis set HF/6-31G(d,p). The results showed that the - N-C bonding formation via SN2 than the -O-C bonding formation via SN2 which have activation energy 469.437 kJ/mol and 533.219 kJ/mol respectively. However, the -O-C bonding formation more spontaneous than the -N-C bonding formation because ΔG the formation of O-CMC-2 reaction is more negative than ΔG of formation N-CMC-2 reaction is -4.353 kJ/mol and -1.095 kJ/mol respectively. The synthesis of N,O-CMC first forms -O-CH2COOH, then continues to form -NH-CH2COOH. This information is valuable to further optimize the reaction codition for CMC synthesis.