Synthesis and structure/property relationships of regioselective 2-O-, 3-O- and 6-O-ethyl celluloses.

Regioselectively ethylated celluloses, 2-O- (1), 3-O- (2), and 6-O-ethyl- (3) celluloses were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of glucopyranose orthopivalate derivatives. The number-average degrees of polymerization (DP(n)s) of compounds 1 and 2 were calculated to be 10.6 and 49.