The reaction of cellulose carbonate with amino and mercapto compounds

Cellulose carbonates: a platform for promising biopolymer derivatives with multifunctional capabilities

Cellulose carbonates as a platform compound open new possibilities for the design of advanced materials based on the most important renewable resource cellulose. In the present feature, the chemistry of cellulose carbonates is discussed considering own research results adequately. After a short overview about methods for activation of polysaccharides for a conversion with nucleophilic compounds in particular with amines, details about various methods for the synthesis of polysaccharide carbonates are discussed. The main issue of the feature is the synthesis and aminolysis of cellulose carbonates with low, intermediate, and high degree of substitution and the evaluation of this chemistry with respect to specific challenges. Functional cellulose carbamates, obtained from cellulose phenyl carbonate by aminolysis, show the potential use of this class of celluloses. Immunoassays and zwitterionic polymers are included as representative examples regarding properties and application of the new cellulose-based products.

Synthesis of cellulose methylcarbonate in ionic liquids using dimethylcarbonate

Dialkylcarbonates are viewed as low-cost, low-toxicity reagents, finding application in many areas of green chemistry. Homogeneous alkoxycarbonylation of cellulose was accomplished by applying dialkycarbonates (dimethyl and diethyl carbonate) in the ionic liquid-electrolyte trioctylphosphonium acetate ([P8881 ][OAc])/DMSO or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim][OAc]). Cellulose dialkylcarbonates with a moderate degree of substitution (DS∼1) are accessible via this procedure and cellulose methylcarbonate was thoroughly characterized for its chemical and physical properties after regeneration. This included HSQC & HMBC NMR, ATR-IR, molecular weight distribution, morphology, thermal properties, and barrier properties after film formation.

The use of cellulose xanthate for the immobilisation of biological molecules

The mercapto groups of cellulose xanthate can reversibly form disulphide bridges with L-cysteine. This property has been utilised for the immobilisation of a protein and an enzyme. These macromolecules, as polythiol derivatives, formed disulphide linkages with the matrix without serious disturbance of their active sites, became firmly bound to the xanthate, and were not eluted by normal washing conditions. Cellulose xanthate is a cheap, easily prepared matrix which permits a simple coupling reaction. The immobilisation process is selectively reversible.