Glycopolymers from Synthetic Fragments (Amides of α-d-Galacturonic Acid with Amino Acids) of Proteus O-Antigens

Galacturonamides of amino acids (alanine, lysine, serine, and threonine), constituents of Proteus O-specific polysaccharides, have been synthesised. O-tert-Butyl and N∊-tert-butyloxycarbonyl protected amino acid tert-butyl esters were condensed with the 2-azidoethyl α-glycoside of d-galacturonic acid, prepared by Fischer glycosidation. Reduction of the azido group followed by N-acryloylation and deprotection gave the target monomers. By copolymerisation with acryl-amide, these were converted into glycopolymers potentially useful for defining epitopes in Proteus O-antigens.