Synthesis of cross-linked polymer consisting of cellulose and polyethyleneimine by interpolymer reaction.

Abstract

Cross-linked polymers consisting of cellulose and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were synthesized by the reaction of reactive cellulose derivatives such as chlorinated cellulose (Cell-Cl), cellulose tosylate (Cell-OTs) and cellulose acetate bromoacetate (AcCell-AcBr) with PEI. With Cell-Cl the reaction easily occurred in DMF and dioxane but was depressed by water contained in the medium. PEI content of the polymers increased with an increase in reaction temperature and with chlorine content in Cell-Cl. Cell-OTs also easily reacted with PEI to give the high PEI content polymers irrespective of reaction temperature and the molecular weight of PEI. AcCell-AcBr gave the products of high PEI content only by the reaction with PEI of high molecular weight. Thermogravimetric analysis suggested that the products were the cross-linked polymers composed of cellulose derivatives and PEI owing to their high thermal stabilities.