Studies on the homogeneous acetylation of cellulose in the novel solvent dimethyl sulfoxide/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate

The novel solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF . 3H(2)O) was studied for acetylation of linters cellulose. In order to control the degree of substitution (DS), acetylation of the macromolecule was carried out at different reaction time and temperature, molar ratio of reactants, as well as under variation of the concentration of TBAF . 3H(2)O in solution. Cellulose acetate (CA) was accessible with DS ranging from 0.43 to 2.77. The change in concentration of TBAF . 3H(2)O in DMSO showed a strong influence on DS. The most appropriate reaction conditions for acetylation of linters cellulose regarding maximal DS were evaluated. The structure of the CA was characterized by means of FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The solubility of the CA depends not only on the DS but also on the reaction conditions applied, indicating a different distribution of acetate moieties both within and between polymer chains.     

Orientation processes in cellulose acetate under the action of dimethyl sulfoxide vapor

Spontaneous variation of the linear size (elongation-contraction) of acetate fibers in a vapor of dimethyl sulfoxide, which is a mesophasogenic solvent, i.e., a solvent forming a liquid crystal phase with the polymer, is described. A mechanism of the interaction of the polymer with the solvent vapor is suggested.     

Benzylation of cellulose in the solvent dimethylsulfoxide/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate

The cellulose solvent dimethylsulfoxide/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF·3 H₂O) was studied as reaction medium for the synthesis of benzyl cellulose (BC) by treating the dissolved polymer with benzyl chloride in the presence of solid NaOH or aqueous NaOH solution. BC samples with degree of substitution (DS) between 0.40 and 2.85 were accessible applying different molar ratios. The studies show that both the TBAF·3 H₂O concentration and the molar ratio of the reagents to repeating unit influence the DS. The solubility of the BC synthesized in a different way, however, of comparable DS is different. Structural analyses were carried out by means of FTIR-, ¹H- and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. SEC measurements revealed polymer aggregation in samples of low DS synthesized in a solvent containing 9.0% TBAF·3 H₂O. At higher concentration of TBAF·3 H₂O in the solvent, the BC samples obtained do not form aggregates. BC of high DS is crystalline and shows thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior as analyzed by means of DSC. Melting point and degradation temperature are not related to the DS.     

New solvents for cellulose: dimethyl sulfoxide/ammonium fluorides

New solvents based on DMSO in combination with alkylammonium fluorides, in particular TBAF . 3H(2)O and BTMAF . H(2)O, were established as media for homogeneous functionalization of cellulose. Even DMSO in combination with freshly prepared, anhydrous TBAF, obtained by the reaction of tetrabutylammonium cyanide and hexafluorobenzene, dissolves cellulose. In contrast, a mixture of DMSO and tetramethylammonium fluoride does not dissolve cellulose. The solvents were characterized by capillary viscosity, which showed that a cellulose solution of DMSO/BTMAF . H(2)O possesses a lower viscosity at comparable cellulose concentrations compared with DMSO/TBAF . 3H(2)O. The determination of the degree of polymerization of the starting cellulose (microcrystalline cellulose, spruce sulfite pulp, and cotton linters), and of the regenerated samples, shows that degradation of the polymer depends on the dissolution time, temperature and on the ammonium fluoride used. The results of different homogeneous reactions including acylation and carbanilation of cellulose in the solvents were compared with those of the most-commonly-applied solvent N,N-dimethylacetamide/LiCl. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H- and (13)C NMR spectroscopy (additionally after perpropionylation) and FTIR spectroscopy.     

Application of the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide/tetrabutyl-ammonium fluoride trihydrate as reaction medium for the homogeneous acylation of Sisal cellulose

Two types of Sisal cellulose were studied as starting material for homogeneous acylation in the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF). The native Sisal cellulose investigated contains 14% hemicellulose (mainly composed of xylose) as confirmed by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy in DMSO-d₆/TBAF and HPLC analysis after complete polymer degradation. Alkali treatment of Sisal cellulose decreases the amount of hemicellulose, the degree of polymerization and the crystallinity. Both Sisal cellulose samples can be dissolved in DMSO/TBAF after treatment at elevated temperature. GPC measurements showed high aggregation in the solution. Different homogeneous acylation reactions using carboxylic acid anhydrides and vinyl esters were carried out, showing a pronounced tendency of the anhydride towards hydrolysis in the solvent. This disadvantage can be diminished by decreasing the amount of the salt hydrate (TBAF trihydrate) or by a distillative removal of the majority of water. A strong interaction of the polymer with the water in the solvent was observed.     

Role of dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent for vinyl polymerization

Dimethyl sulfoxide has been used as a solvent in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene. The chain-transfer coefficients of the solvent and the values of δ [i.e., (2k_t)^1/2/k_p] in solvent-monomer mixtures of various compositions were determined. δ was observed to be dependent on the solvent concentration in the case of methyl methacrylate but remained constant in case of styrene. The lowering of the values of δ with increasing solvent concentration in case of methyl methacrylate has been attributed to an interaction between the solvent and poly(methyl methacrylate) radical resulting in lower termination rate.     

Rheological properties of cellulose solution in paraformaldehyde/dimethyl sulfoxide system (1)

The rheological properties of three cellulose samples are investigated, including the dependence of the non‐Newtonian Index, structural viscosity and zero shear viscosity on temperature and the concentration of their paraformaldehyde/dimethyl sulfoxide solutions; the values of viscous flow activation energy of them are higher than that of the viscose solution. With the increase of molecular weight, solution concentration and the decrease of temperature, the rheological properties become worse. The rheological properties of cotton linters Cotton 1 are better than those of wood pulp Wood 2 despite a similar degree of polymerization. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrospinning of ultrafine cellulose acetate fibers: Studies of a new solvent system and deacetylation of ultrafine cellulose acetate fibers

Electrospinning of cellulose acetate (CA) in a new solvent system and the deacetylation of the resulting ultrafine CA fibers were investigated. Ultrafine CA fibers (∼2.3 μm) were successfully prepared via electrospinning of CA in a mixed solvent of acetone/water at water contents of 10–15 wt %, and more ultrafine CA fibers (0.46 μm) were produced under basic pH conditions. Ultrafine cellulose fibers were regenerated from the homogeneous deacetylation of ultrafine CA fibers in KOH/ethanol. It was very rapid and completed within 20 min. The crystal structure, thermal properties, and morphology of ultrafine CA fibers were changed according to the degree of deacetylation, finally to those of pure cellulose, but the nonwoven fibrous mat structure was maintained. The activation energy for the deacetylation of ultrafine CA fibers was 10.3 kcal/mol. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 5–11, 2004     

Thallium-205 NMR spectroscopy. Solvation of the Tl(l) ion in the binary solvent systems water/pyridine,water/dimethyl sulfoxide,and pyridine/dimethyl sulfoxide

Solvation of the Tl⁺ ion in 0.005M solutions of water/pyridine, water/dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridine/dimethyl sulfoxide was studied with ²⁰⁵ Tl NMR spectroscopy as a function of solvent composition and anion (NO ₃ ^– and ClO ₄ ^t- ). Dimethyl sulfoxide solvated the Tl⁺ ion more strongly than did pyridine, despite the latter's greater electron-donating ability. This was explained in terms of structural effects, which were found to be large for all three binary solvent systems. Ion pairing was evident in the DMSO/pyridine and water/pyridine solvent systems in which the pyridine mole fraction was greater than 0.8.     

The role of salt on cellulose dissolution in ethylene diamine/salt solvent systems

Ethylene diamine (EDA)/salt solvent systems can dissolve cellulose without any pretreatment. A comparison of the electrical conductivity of different salts in EDA was made at 25 °C, and conductivity decreased in the order of KSCN>KI>NaSCN at the same molar concentration. Among the salts tested, potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) was capable of dissolving both high molecular weight (DP>1000) and low molecular weight (DP = 210) cellulose, and this was confirmed by polarized light microscopy. ³⁹K and ¹⁴N NMR experiments were conducted at 70 °C as a function of cellobiose concentration with EDA/KSCN as the solvent. The results showed that the K⁺ ion interacts with cellobiose more than the SCN⁻ ion does. Recovered cellulose was studied by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Changes in the FTIR absorption bands at 1,430 and 1,317 cm⁻¹ were associated with a change in the conformation of the C-6CH₂OH group. The changes in positions and/or intensities of absorption bands at 2,900, 1,163, and 8,97cm⁻¹ were related to the breaking of hydrogen bonds in cellulose. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that cellulose, recovered by precipitating cellulose solutions with water, underwent a polymorphic transformation from cellulose I to cellulose II.     

Room temperature dissolution of cellulose in tetra-butylammonium hydroxide aqueous solvent through adjustment of solvent amphiphilicity

The amphiphilicity of solvent systems is realized for adjusting the dissolution of natural cellulose by making use of tetra-butylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) as an example. TBAH aqueous solution is found to have an obvious effect on adjusting its amphiphilicity, along with a flexible concentration ranging from 40 to 60 wt% for dissolving cellulose. With a suitable amphiphilic property, cellulose can be dissolved by a TBAH aqueous system . The experimental results demonstrate that with the introduction of urea (more than 0.2:1, w:v) into a TBAH aqueous system, the dissolution process of cellulose can be dramatically promoted, leading to a transparent solution of cellulose. Herein, a complex solvent of TBAH/urea has been proposed for mild and effective dissolution of cellulose under ambient conditions. In the TBAH/urea complex solvent, the structure of the hybrid hydrate of TBAH and urea formed. Urea served as a hydrophobic contributor adjusting the amphiphilicity of the solvent system, allowing interfacial resistance between the amphiphilic crystal surfaces of the natural cellulose and solvent to be reduced. After that, the crystal of natural cellulose could be fully infiltrated and subsequently dissolved by the TBAH/urea aqueous solvent. The performances of the aqueous solvent and ambient temperature dissolution make aqueous TBAH/urea a potential and green solvent of cellulose for broad applications, such as composites, films or wet spinning of cellulose, in laboratories or industries.     

Retention of configuration in the opening of 2-arylcyclopropyl bromides by potassium acetate/18-crown-6 in dimethyl sulfoxide

E and Z 2-phenylcyclopropyl bromides react with the title reagents to yield E and Z cinnamyl acetates respectively. No reaction is observed when halide nucleophiles or other aprotic solvents are used suggesting a novel mechanistic role for the acetate ion.     

The dissolution properties of N-guanylurea-dinitramide (FOX-12) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)

The enthalpy of dissolution of FOX-12 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was measured by means of a RD496-III Calvet microcalorimeter at 298.15 K. Empirical formulae for the calculation of the enthalpy of dissolution ( $ \Updelta_{\text{diss}} H $ ), relative partial molar enthalpy ( $ \Updelta_{\text{diss}} H_{\text{partial}} $ ), and relative apparent molar enthalpy ( $ \Updelta_{\text{diss}} H_{\text{apparent}} $ ) were obtained from the experimental data of the enthalpies of dissolution of FOX-12 in DMSO. The kinetic equation that describes the dissolution process of FOX-12 in DMSO at 298.15 K is determined as $ \frac{{{\text{d}}\alpha }}{{{\text{d}}t}} = 8.5 \times 10^{ - 3} (1 - \alpha )^{0.59} $ .     

Phase separation and heat-induced gelation characteristics of cellulose acetate in a mixed solvent system

The addition of cellulose acetate (CA) to a mixed solvent of N,N dimethylacetamide (DMA) and water is examined at different CA concentrations and water contents. Unlike the addition of water to a CA/DMA solution, the addition of CA to a DMA/water solution leads to a transition from a homogeneous solution at low water content to a two-phase system at higher water contents. The two-phase system has an upper liquid layer with an almost clear “solution-like” appearance and a lower gel-like layer. Treating the two-phase system at 100 °C for 30 min results in the formation of a uniform gel structure, similar to that produced by directly adding water to a CA/DMA solution. Although the phase behavior of these systems is similar, their viscoelastic properties are not. The moduli of the heat treated gels do not significantly vary from that of the bottom gel-like portion of the original two-phase samples. This may indicate that thermal treatment at 100 °C is not able to disrupt the pre-established CA intra- and intermolecular interactions and form the stronger CA-DMA interactions.     

Construction of a dimethyl sulfoxide sensor based on dimethyl sulfoxide reductase immobilized on a au film electrode.

A novel dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) sensor using DMSO reductase and film electrodes was constructed. The Au and Ag electrodes were fabricated on slide glass by vacuum deposition and the application of a photolithographic technique. The micro-chamber (4 x 50 x 1 mm, volume 200 microl) was fabricated on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer. The Pt electrode was implanted in a PDMS polymer. DMSO reductase was immobilized on a Au film electrode with bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glutaraldehyde. This sensor could determine DMSO in an unpurged aqueous solution with glucose oxidase (GOD) and catalase (CAT) for oxygen removal. The DMSO sensor showed a linear response within 1 mM DMSO with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The detection limit was 200 microM (3sigma), and the sensitivity was 23.8 mA M(-1) cm(-2). The relative standard deviations at each concentration were within 3.6%.     

Microfibrillated cellulose/cellulose acetate composites: Effect of surface treatment

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), which consists of a web‐like array of cellulose fibrils having a diameter in the range of 10–100 nm, was incorporated into a cellulose acetate (CA) matrix to form a totally biobased structural composite. Untreated and a 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) surface treated MFC was combined with a CA matrix by film casting from an acetone suspension. The effectiveness of the surface treatment was determined by infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Young's moduli of APS treated MFC composite films increase with increasing MFC content from 1.9 GPa for the CA to 4.1 GPa at 7.5 wt % of MFC, which is more than doubled. The tensile strength of the composite film increases to a maximum of 63.5 MPa at 2.5 wt % compared to the CA which has a value of 38 MPa. The thermal stability of composites with treated MFC is also better than the untreated MFC. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 153–161, 2010