Vapor Phosphorylation of Cellulose by Phosphorus Trichlo-Ride: Selective Phosphorylation of 6-Hydroxyl Function-The Synthesis of New Antimicrobial Cellulose 6-Phosphate(III)-Copper Complexes.

This research is focused on a synthesis of copper-cellulose phosphates antimicrobial complexes. Vapor-phase phosphorylations of cellulose were achieved by exposing microcrystalline cellulose to phosphorus trichloride (PCl) vapors. The cellulose--dichlorophosphines (Cell--PCl) formed were hydrolyzed to cellulose--hydrogenphosphate (P(III)) (Cell--P(O)(H)(OH)), which, in turn, were converted into corresponding copper(II) complexes (Cell--P(O)(H)(OH)∙Cu). The analysis of the complexes Cell--P(O)(H)(OH)∙Cu covered: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), atomic absorption spectrometry with flame excitation (FAAS), and bioactivity tests against representative Gram-negative bacteria () and Gram-positive bacteria (). The antimicrobial tests of synthesized Cell--P(O)(H)(OH)∙Cu revealed their potential applications as an antibacterial material.