The present study investigates a suitable material, which is expected to have biocompatibility and to promote tissue regeneration. For this purpose, we have chosen chitin that was chemically modified by phosphorylation with high degree of substitution. The phosphorylated chitin (P-chitin) was synthesized using the H3PO4/P2O5/ET3PO4/hexanol method. The structure of P-chitin was analyzed by FTIR, P-31- and C-13-NMR spectroscopic studies, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The thermal properties of the P-chitin were also characterized by thermogravimetric analyses. The highly phosphorylated chitin derivatives prepared by this method were soluble in water and amorphous in nature. Thus, H3PO4/P2O5/ET3PO4/hexanol method provides a versatile and alternative route for synthesis of P-chitin, which would be useful for biomedical applications. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 49:844-849, 2009. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers