solvent-free synthesis of modified pectin compounds promoted by microwave irradiation无溶剂合成改性果胶化合物由微波辐射.pdfVIP

Molecules 2012, 17, 12234-12242; doi:10.3390/molecules171012234 OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 /journal/molecules Communication Solvent-Free Synthesis of Modified Pectin Compounds Promoted by Microwave Irradiation Enrica Calce 1, Valeria Bugatti 2, Vittoria Vittoria 2 and Stefania De Luca 1,* 1 Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, National Research Council, 80138 Naples, Italy 2 Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: stefania.deluca@cnr.it; Tel.: +39-081-2534514; Fax: +39-081-2536642. Received: 14 September 2012; in revised form: 1 October 2012 / Accepted: 16 October 2012 / Published: 18 October 2012 Abstract: Microwave-assisted solvent-free modification of pectin was successfully accomplished, consisting in the esterification of several fatty acids by pectin alcoholic functions. The reaction was performed by simply mixing the reagents with a catalytic amount of the inorganic base (potassium carbonate) and irradiating the obtained mixture with microwaves for a short time (3–6 min). The replacement of the traditional heating with a microwave source allowed the development of a new synthetic protocol which provided increased yield of the final products, since it eliminates the small amount of degraded polysaccharide produced during traditional oil bath