Click reactions in chitosan chemistry

Abstract

The review provides the first generalized and systematized information on the use of click reactions in chitosan chemistry for the preparation of novel polymers with attractive physicochemical and biological properties. The reactions of copper-catalyzed azide—alkyne cycloaddition and the click reactions of chitosan derivatives occurring in the absence of salts or metal complexes are discussed in detail. The data on the pre-click modification of chito-san (i.e., the introduction of azide function, alkyne fragment, highly dipolarophilic moieties, and thiol group into the polymer) are reviewed. Special attention is given to the application of new chitosan derivatives obtained by click modification.