Vinylation of cellulose in superbase catalytic systems: towards new biodegradable polymer materials

Diverse celluloses including non-mercerized and mercerized ones have been successfully vinylated with acetylene in the superbase catalytic systems MOH/DMSO and MOH/THF (M = Na, K) at 85–140 °C. Depending on the reaction conditions, degree of substitution of the hydroxyl groups by highly reactive polymerazable vinyloxy groups ranges 0.11–1.22, the yields of vinylated celluloses (insoluble in water, but soluble in DMSO) being 41–89 %. Vinylated celluloses are easily decomposed under the action of white rot fungi: Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsutus, and can constitute a basis for the preparation of biodegradable polymer materials (due to polymerization or polyaddition at the vinyloxy group).