Clickable Polymers Accessible through Nucleophilic Substitution on Polysaccharides: A Sophisticated Route to Functional Polymers

Abstract

This review article is dedicated to special polysaccharide esters – the polysaccharide toluenesulfonic acid esters (tosylates) and polysaccharide carbonate esters. After describing the specifics of the synthesis, particular emphasis is placed on the use of polysaccharide tosylates and polysaccharide phenyl carbonates for subsequent modification by nucleophilic substitution (SN) reactions. For this purpose, the advantages and limitations of the respective derivatives are discussed with regard to their application in chemical modification with nucleophiles containing functional groups. A few functional polysaccharide derivatives and their properties are presented. Finally, reactive derivatives for click chemistry approaches are featured. These can be prepared starting from the reactive intermediate of either polysaccharide tosylate or polysaccharide phenyl carbonate.