Synthesis and structure/property relationships of regioselective 2-O-, 3-O- and 6-O-ethyl celluloses.

Regioselectively ethylated celluloses, 2-O- (1), 3-O- (2), and 6-O-ethyl- (3) celluloses were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of glucopyranose orthopivalate derivatives. The number-average degrees of polymerization (DP(n)s) of compounds 1 and 2 were calculated to be 10.6 and 49.4, respectively. Three kinds of compound 3 with different DP(n)s were prepared: DP(n)s = 12.9 (3-1), 60.3 (3-2), and 36.1 (3-3). The 2-O-, 3-O-, and 6-O-ethylcelluloses were soluble in water, confirmed by NMR analysis. Furthermore, the 3-O- (2), and 6-O-ethyl- (3-2) celluloses showed thermo-responsive aggregation behavior and had a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at about 40 degrees C and 70 degrees C, respectively, based on the results from turbidity tests and DSC measurements. The 6-O-ethyl-cellulose (3-3) with DP(n) = 36.1 and DP(w) = 54.6 showed gelation behavior over approx 70 degrees C, whereas the 6-O-ethyl-celluloses 3-1 and 3-2 with lower and higher molecular weight, such as DP(n)s 12.9 and 60.3, did not show gelation behavior at this temperature. It was revealed that the position of ethyl group affected the phase transition temperature. According to our experiments, the 3-O-ethyl and 6-O-ethyl groups along the cellulose chains caused the thermo-responsive property of their aqueous solutions. The appropriate DP of the regioselective 6-O-ethyl-cellulose existed for gelation of the aqueous solution.