Regioselective Esterification and Etherification of Cellulose: A Review

Deep understanding of the structure-property relationships of polysaccharide derivatives depends on the ability to control the position of the substituents around the monosaccharide ring and along the chain. Equally important is the ability to analyze position of substitution. Historically, both synthetic control and analysis of regiochemistry have been very difficult for cellulose derivatives, as for most other polysaccharide derivatives. With the advent of cellulose solvents that are suitable for chemical transformations, it has become possible to carry out cellulose derivatization under conditions sufficiently mild to permit increasingly complete regiochemical control, particularly with regard to the position of the substituents around the anhydroglucose ring. In addition, new techniques for forming cellulose and its derivatives from monomers, either by enzyme-catalyzed processes or chemical polymerization, permit us to address new frontiers in regiochemical control. We review these exciting developments in regiocontrolled synthesis of cellulose derivatives and their implications for in-depth structure-property studies.