Effect of substituent distribution on water solubility of O-methylcellulose

The effect of substituent distribution on the water solubility of O-methylcellulose (MC) was re-examined to elucidate the lower limit of the degree of substitution (DS) in water-soluble MC. To this end, a series of 2,3-MCs which are regioselectively substituted at the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups were prepared by homogeneous methylation. It was found that the lower limit for the DS value of water-soluble 2,3-MC was almost the same as that for MCs having even distributions of substituents along the cellulose chain as well as in the anhydroglucose units. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.