Preparation of amphiphilic sucrose carbamates by reaction with alkyl isocyanates in water–alcohol mixtures

The reactivity of sucrose with isocyanates in aqueous media has been studied. Mixtures of water and alcohols allow good conversion of the isocyanates to sucrose carbamates. The influence of the reaction parameters on the selectivity (degree of substitution and regioselectivity) was investigated in the case of long chain isocyanates, which have potential surfactant properties.