Soluble Model Compounds Research Articles

The Relative Reactivities of the Hydroxyl Groups of Cotton Cellulose—A Progress Report1

Major preceding studies of the distribution of substituents in cellulose have been reviewed. Over-all results indicate that the highest degree of reaction occurs at the hydroxyl group on C-2 in the case of the irreversible Williamson syntheses involving reagents of small molecular size. Pronounced preferential reaction occurs at the hy droxyl group on C-6 in the case of reversible reactions and with increasing molecular size of reagent. The relative reactivities of the hydroxyl groups on C-2, C-3, and C-6 of the D(1→4)- β-glucopyranosyl unit of cotton cellulose have been explored with three chemical agents. Predominant reaction of cotton cellulose occurs at the primary hydroxyl group on C-6 in the case of the reversible Michael addition of methyl vinyl sulfone (i.e., 2-0- : 3-0- : 6-0- = 0.20: 0.03: 1.00), at the hydroxyl groups on C-2 and C-6 in the case of the irreversible reaction with diethylaminoethyl chloride (1.27 : 0.35 : 1.00), and at the hydroxyl groups on C-6 and C-2 in the case of the irreversible Williamson synthesis with sodium allyl sulfate (0.7:0.2:1.0). The D-(1→4)-α-glucopyranosyl unit of dextrin (employed as a soluble model compound for cellulose) undergoes reversible esterification with formic acid most rapidly and to the highest equilibrium level at the primary hydroxyl group on C-6.