Infrared spectroscopy studies of the cyclic anhydride as the intermediate for the ester crosslinking of cotton cellulose by polycarboxylic acids. I. Identification of the cyclic anhydride intermediate

The mechanism of esterification of cotton cellulose by a polycarboxylic acid was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The infrared spectroscopic data indicate that a polycarboxylic acid esterifies with cotton cellulose through the formation of an acid anhydride intermediate. A five-member cyclic anhydride intermediate was identified in the cotton fabric treated with poly(maleic acid). The five-member cyclic anhydride is a reactive intermediate and readily esterifies when reaction sites are available. We also found that those polycarboxylic acids, which form five-member cyclic anhydride intermediates, crosslink cotton cellulose more effectively than those polycarboxylic acids which form six-member cyclic anhydride intermediates. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.