Hydrogen bonds in regioselectively substituted cellulose derivatives

Formation of hydrogen bonds in various cellulose derivatives, 2,3-di-O- and 6-O-substituted cellulose ethers, were characterized by FTIR and solid-state CP/MAS¹³C-NMR. The polymers were synthesized by regioselective substitution of hydroxyl groups and had a uniform structure. Since their three hydroxyl groups (OH) are selectively blocked, the cellulose derivatives appeared to form specific inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The characteristic OH stretching frequencies in IR spectra and the C-1 chemical shift in CP/MAS spectra of 6-O-substituted cellulose derivatives indicated existence of two equivalent intramolecular hydrogen bonds between ether oxygen and OH groups at 3-OH-O5′ and O6-HO-2′ [Figure 3(C)]. Influence of the substituents at the C-6 position on the formation was not significant except trityl group. Behavior of the hydrogen bonds in 6-O-tritylcellulose were also discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.