This book summarizes recent progress in cellulose chemistry. The last 10 years have witnessed important developments, because sustainability is a major concern. Biodegradable cellulose derivatives, in particular esters and ethers, are employed on a large scale. The recent developments in cellulose chemistry include unconventional methods for the synthesis of derivatives, introduction of novel solvents, e.g. ionic liquids, novel approaches to regioselective derivatization of cellulose, preparation of nano-particles and nano-composites for specific applications. These new developments are discussed comprehensively. This book is aimed at researchers and professionals working on cellulose and its derivatives. It fills an important gap in teaching, because most organic chemistry textbooks concentrate on the relatively simple chemistry of mono- and disaccharides. The chemistry and, more importantly, the applications of cellulose are only concisely mentioned.

Inhalt
Preface.- Introduction.- Production and characteristics of cellulose from different sources.- Plant cellulose.- Bacterial cellulose.- Structurally modified cellulose.- Structure and Properties of Cellulose and its Derivatives.- Molecular and Supramolecular structure of cellulose.- Molar mass and its distribution.- Structural Information.- Cellulose Activation and Dissolution.- Activation of Cellulose.- Dissolution of cellulose.- Principles of cellulose derivatization.- The heterogeneous versus the homogeneous reaction path: Advantages and limitations.- Esterification of cellulose general comments.- Etherification of cellulose - overview.- Regioselective synthesis of cellulose derivatives using protecting groups.- Cellulose esters.- Esters of carboxylic acids.- Esters of sulfonic acids and their use for Sn reactions.- Esters of inorganic acids.- Etherification of cellulose.- Ionic cellulose ethers.- Nonionic cellulose ethers.- Silyl ethers.