N,N'-diallylaldardiamides and their use as cross-linkers in xylan hydrogels

N, N-diallylaldardiamides were synthesized from galactaric, xylaric and arabinaric acid. Hydrogels were prepared in water solution by UV induced free-radical crosslinking polymerization of xylan polymer in the presence of 1 or 5 mass-% of N, N-diallylaldardiamide crosslinker. Commercially available N, N-diallyltartardiamide (DATDA) was also used. Xylan polymers had different degrees of substitution of allyl groups which were calculated according to 1H-NMR spectra. Elemental analysis proved the crosslinking successful. Water absorption of the gels was examined and gels with less crosslinker and lowest degree of substitution turned out to absorb the most. The swollen morphology of the hydrogels was assessed by scanning electron microscopy.