A NEW CONCEPT ON THE CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF WOOD BY ORGANIC ANHYDRIDES

Reactions other than acetylation also appear to contribute to the effe ct today known as ''acetylation'' of wood. The evidence presented indi cates that while true acetylation does indeed occur, the greater contr ibution to dimensional stabilization starts with an alpha-set type of attack on the aromatic nuclei of lignin. It is not clear if this initi al acylation reaction occurs by direct attack of anhydride fragments o n the aromatic nuclei of lignin, or if acetylation occurs first and ac ylation follows by a Fries rearrangement. The acylation appears to lea d to several subsequent reactions on the aromatic nuclei of lignin whi ch clearly infer the possibility of wood matrix cross-linking.