Evaluation of the Synthesis of Soluble Aromatic Cellulose Carbonates of Low Degree of Substitution

The synthesis of soluble cellulose phenyl carbonates of low degree of substitution (DS, as low as 0.3) can be realized by using phenyl chloroformates with reactivity-controlling moieties in the aromatic ring or by conversion of 6-O-triphenylmethyl cellulose. It is assumed that the primary hydroxyl group may yield to cross-linking during the introduction of the phenyl carbonate moieties. Thus, for the first time soluble cellulose phenyl carbonates of low DS are accessible that are useful for the preparation of novel cellulose derivatives by reaction with nucleophilic reagents in particular amines.