Ammonium-based cellulose solvents suitable for homogeneous etherification
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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile
Published on: October 30, 2018
Sarah Köhler1, Tim Liebert, Thomas Heinze
1Centre of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research at Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
Abstract:
New ammonium-based cellulose solvents with triethylmethylammonium- and tributylmethylammonium cations and carboxylate anions were synthesized and investigated as potential solvents for cellulose. Triethylmethylammonium formate was found to dissolve cellulose. Small amounts of formic acid may be used to adjust the melting point of the organic salt and can increase the dissolution velocity of cellulose. Carboxymethylation as a common etherification reaction was investigated in the new ammonium-based system. The watersoluble carboxymethyl cellulose obtained, had a degree of substitution as high as 1.55. An unconventional pattern of substitution was accessible.
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