After some introductory comments on the information available from hig
h resolution liquid NMR spectroscopy, a brief survey is given on the a
reas of application of this technique in cellulose research, i.e. the
investigation of interaction between cellulose and different solvent s
ystems and the characterization of cellulose ethers and esters with re
gard to substituent distribution within the anhydroglucose unit. The m
ain part of this contribution is concerned with the results of the C-1
3-NMR spectroscopic investigations of regioselective derivatization of
cellulose via cellulose intermediates of different stability. Recent
results of the authors on sulfation and phosphatation of cellulose via
reactive intermediates, i.e. cellulose acetate, silyl cellulose and c
ellulose nitrite, are summarized and the dependences of the synthesis
conditions are discussed.