Deoxycelluloses and related structures

The syntheses of various deoxycelluloses and related structures (cellulosen es and anhydrocelluloses) from the mid-1920s to the present are critically reviewed. General synthetic strategies to prepare deoxycelluloses include n ucleophilic displacement of good leaving groups. Distinctions are made betw een reaction of cellulosics under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions. Recent advances in the preparation of halodeoxycelluloses have led to high degree of substitution fluorodeoxycelluloses and bromodeoxycelluloses. App lications for the deoxcycelluloses are numerous and characterized by biolog ical, chemical or physical end uses.