title: Efficient cellulose solvent: quaternary ammonium chlorides.
abstract: Pure quaternary tetraalkylammonium chlorides with one long alkyl chain dissolved in various organic solvents constitute a new class of cellulose solvents. The electrolytes are prepared in high yields and purity by Menshutkin quaternization, an inexpensive and easy synthesis route. The pure molten tetraalkylammonium chlorides dissolve up to 15 wt% of cellulose. Cosolvents, including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), may be added in large excess, leading to a system of decreased viscosity. Contrary to the well-established solvent DMA/LiCl, cellulose dissolves in DMA/quaternary ammonium chlorides without any pretreatment. Thus, the use of the new solvent avoids some disadvantages of DMA/LiCl and ionic liquids, the most extensively employed solvents for homogeneous cellulose chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kostag
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liebert
authors.forename: Omar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: El Seoud
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heinze
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000737:chemistry; D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D002482:Cellulose; D018021:Lithium Chloride; C013959:dimethylacetamide
keywords: N,N-dimethylacetamide; cellulose dissolution; ionic liquids; quaternary ammonium salts; viscosity