Synthesis, characterization, and antifungal activity of novel inulin derivatives with chlorinated benzene

A group of novel inulin derivatives containing benzene or chlorinated benzene were synthesized by reaction of chloracetyl inulin (CAIL) with the Schiff bases of 4-amino-pyridine, including (2-pyridyl)acetyl inulin chloride (PAIL), 2-[4-(2-chlorobenzylideneamino)-pyridyl]acetyl inulin chloride (2CPAIL), 2-[4-(4-chlorobenzylideneamino)-pyridyl]acetyl inulin chloride (4CPAIL), and 2-[4-(2,4-dichlorobenzylideneamino)-pyridyl]acetyl inulin chloride (2,4DCPAIL). Their antifungal activity against three kinds of phytopathogens was estimated by hypha measurement in vitro. Of all the synthesized chitosan derivatives, 2,4DCPAIL inhibited the growth of the tested phytopathogens with inhibitory indices of 67%, 47%, and 43% against Colletotrichum lagenarium (Pass) Ell.et halst, Phomopsis asparagi (Sacc.) Bubak and Fusarium oxysporum (schl.) F.sp. niveum (F. oxysporum) respectively at 1.0 mg/mL. The results indicate that all the inulin derivatives have better antifungal activity than inulin, and the inhibitory index is affected by the chlorine atom grafted to the inulin derivatives.