α,α-Trehalose-based polyacetals and macrocyclic acetals

The polycondensation of 1,x-bis(2-formylphenoxy)alkanes with α,α-trehalose using acidic catalyst leads to the formation of linear polymers and macrocyclic compounds. The structure of the polymer was determined by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOF) analysis. These 1H NMR, ESI-MS and MALDI-TOF spectra revealed that the polyacetal is composed of the molecules terminated by glucopyranosyloxy group or only aldehyde groups. The mass spectra also showed evidence of polyacetal chains with the small content of glucose-dialdehyde units.