Determination of the substitution pattern in the polymer chain of cellulose acetates

Cellulose acetates have been investigated on different structural levels. B ased on the determination of the acetate pattern of the monomers, a method has been developed to describe the distribution of the acetyl groups in the polymer chain. This approach comprises permethylation with methyl triflate , deacetylative deuteromethylation under alkaline conditions, random cleava ge, remethylation with methyl-d(3), FAB-MS analysis and comparison of the e xperimental data with those calculated for a random acetate pattern. Result s are discussed with respect to the conditions of the acetylation reactions . (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.