New phosphorus containing cellulose derivatives

Abstract

The reactions of carboxyl containing cellulose derivatives with trihydroxymethylphosphine and alkylene oxides or aldehydes have yielded phosphonium cellulose derivatives with β and α hydroxyalkyl groups at the phosphorus atom. The use of various carboxycelluloses distinguished by the number and position of the carboxyl groups in the glucopyranose unit showed that they possess high reactivity and the conversions occur at the carboxyl group. In di- and tricarboxylcelluloses steric hindrances are absent since after rupture of the glucopyranose ring the macromolecules have a linear structure. Depending on the structure of the alkylene oxide or aldehyde and also the ratio of the reagents the phosphonium cellulose derivatives obtained are soluble or insoluble in water and retain a fibrous structure in the conditions of phosphorylation and possess reduced combustibility and bactericidal properties.