Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Chitin Tetrazole Derivatives

New tetrazole derivatives of natural chitin polymers of high, medium, and low molecular masses with high, medium, and low degrees of substitution were synthesized and tested in vitro for antibacterial activity. The obtained tetrazole derivatives were characterized by pronounced antibacterial activity in vitro against S. aureus and E. coli. The chitin derivative of medium molecular mass with a medium degree of substitution had the highest antibacterial activity among all obtained derivatives. The antibacterial activity of this derivative as measured by bacterial growth inhibition zones was comparable to those of the antibiotics ampicillin and gentamycin. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.