Pyrolysis of cellulose

Pyrolysis of cellulose under vacuum and atmospheric pressure gave a tar containing various amounts of 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose, 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucofuranose, α- and β-D-glucose, 3-deoxy-D-erythro-hexosulose, oligo- and polysaccharides, and some dehydration products. The polysaccharide fraction had no reducing end-group, was randomly linked, contained some furanoid rings, and was very similar to the polysaccharide condensation-product of 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucose. These results are consistent with a series of inter- and intra-molecular transglycosylation and dehydration and rehydration reactions.