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-dealkoxylation (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 1 3 C 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 m and Y n ) were calculated based on the results of elemental analysis. The DA values of the N-alkylamides were 39-55% that corresponded to Y n of 54-75%.