Synthesis of compounds having antimicrobial activity from alginate

Compounds having antimicrobial activity were synthesized from sodium alginate, the main constituent of brown algae. Sodium alginate was oxidized with sodium periodate to get alginate dialdehyde (ADA). FTIR spectrum of the ADA gave very small peak characteristic for aldehyde groups at 1720 cm⁻¹, indicating that the aldehyde group is masked somehow. It may be hydrated, involving at hemiacetal formation or hemialdol, similar to cellulose dialdehyde. Two methods were used for the condensation of ADA with o-phenylenediamine analogs to obtain the final products. The first method was stirring at room temperature and the second method was heating in microwave. The microwave method gave higher yield and shorter reaction time than the other method. The condensation reaction is considered as a shiff-base formation and the proposed mechanism was suggested. The condensation products were characterized by FTIR and UV spectra. The antimicrobial potency for five of these products in addition to the used alginate and to the precursor amines was evaluated against four pathogenic fungi and six pathogenic bacteria species.