A versatile method for the surface tailoring of cellulose nanocrystal building blocks by acylation with functional vinyl esters. (1st August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brand, Jérémie; Pecastaings, Gilles; Sèbe, Gilles
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 169(2017)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 197
• Publication Date: 2017-08-01
• Subjects: Cellulose nanocrystals -- Nanocellulose -- Functionalization -- Transesterification -- Vinyl esters; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: A method for the facile surface functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals is proposed. The critical parameters for an efficient functionalization have been identified. The versatility of the method has been verified with various vinyl esters. Abstract: Herein we propose a versatile method for the surface tailoring of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) based on the reactivity of vinyl ester molecules toward the accessible hydroxyl groups located at the surface of the nanoparticles. CNCs produced from wood pulp were acylated in various conditions, with potassium carbonate as catalyst and under microwave activation. The impact of solvent, temperature and reagent concentration on the reaction efficiency and kinetics was then investigated, using vinyl acetate as a model vinyl ester. Results indicated that the chemical reactivity was significantly influenced by the quality of the CNCs dispersion in the solvent of reaction, the ratio of reagent relative to the CNCs surface OH groups, the diffusion of reagent and catalyst within the CNCs aggregates, and the different nucleophilic strengths of the surface hydroxyl groups. The versatility of the method was verified by extending the reaction to a selection of vinyl esters bearing various functionalities.