Preparation of N-alkylamides of highly methylated (HM) citrus pectin
N-Alkylamides of highly methylated (HM) citrus pectin (DM = 73%) were prepared using heterogeneous amino-de-alkoxylation (aminolysis) with five selected n-alkylamines. The reaction was carried out in N,N-dimethylformamide at 8°C (n-butylamine), 25°C (n-hexylamine), and 45°C (n-octylamine, n-dodecylamine and n-octadecylamine). All the derivatives were converted into acid forms by washing with acidic water-ethanol mixture. The products were analysed by organic elemental analysis, diffusion reflection FT-IR spectroscopy and by 13C CP/MAS NMR. Both FT-IR and NMR spectra indicate the presence of alkylamide substituents bound to pectin. The degrees of amidation (DA) of the derivatives and molar and mass reaction yields (Y<sub>m</sub>and Y<sub>n</sub>) were calculated based on the results of elemental analysis. The DA values of the N-alkylamides were 39–55% that corresponded to Y<sub>n</sub>of 54–75%.