Preparation of resins containing phenol derivatives from chloromethylstyrene‐tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate copolymer beads and antibacterial activity of resins

Abstract

Copolymer beads (RCCS-4G) with many chloromethyl groups were prepared by treating macroreticular chloromethylstyrene-tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (4G) copolymer beads with chloromethylether. Copolymer beads (RAAS-4G) with benzylamino groups were prepared by treating RCCS-4G with potassium phthalimide. Then the copolymer beads containing phenol derivatives were prepared by treating RAAS-4G with p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA), 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), and 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (gallic acid, GA) in N,N-dimethylformamide. The antibacterial activity of the obtained resins was examined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Resins containing phenolic hydroxy groups of 2.3–7.7 mequiv/g were obtained. Antibacterial activity of the resins containing various phenol derivatives against E. coli or S. aureus increased in the order of RAAS-4G-GA > RAAS-4G-DHBA > RAAS-4G-pHBA. The resins containing phenol derivatives exhibited higher antibacterial activity against E. coli than against S. aureus and high activity even against bacteria in NaCl solution. Scanning electron micrographs showed that high antibacterial activity was brought about by the phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resin. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1621–1630, 1997