Cellulose solvents - Syntheses, chemistry and side reactions

  • Synthesis and general chemistry of cellulose solvents; with a focus on:
    N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-reagent combinations, cellulose carbanilates, ionic liquids
  • Side reactions and degradation of cellulose solvents and of cellulose in solution
  • Synthesis of isotopically labeled cellulose solvents and their use in structural studies and NMR spectroscopy
  • Physicochemical properties of cellulose solvent systems
  • Structure of the amine N-oxide solvents and cellulose solutions therein
  • Analytics of cellulose solvents
  • Detection and chemistry of reactive intermediates in cellulose solvents and cellulose solutions

Key publications:

  1. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Hofinger, A.; Kosma, P. Holzforschung 2001, 55(6), 661-666. Hydrolytic processes and condensation reactions in the cellulose solvent system N,N-dimethylacetamide / lithium chloride.
  2. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Buchner, R.; Röder, T.; Ebner, G.; Bruglachner, H.; Sixta, H.; Kosma, P. Cellulose 2002, 9, 41-53. The cellulose solvent system N,N-dimethyl-acetamide / lithium chloride revisited: the effect of water on physicochemical properties and chemical stability.
  3. Rosenau, T.; Hofinger, A.; Potthast, A.; Kosma, P. Polymer 2003, 44(20), 6153-6158. On the conformation of the cellulose solvent N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) in solution.
  4. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Kosma, P. Tetrahedron 2004, 60, 301-306. Studies on carbenium-iminium ions derived from N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO).
  5. Adorjan, I.; Sjöberg, J.; Rosenau, T.; Sixta, H.; Kosma, P. Carbohydr. Res. 2004, 339(11), 1899-1906. Kinetic and chemical studies on the isomerization of monosaccharides in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) under Lyocell conditions.
  6. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Möslinger, R.; Kosma, P. J. Wood Chem. Technol. 2006, 26(1), 1-11. Confirmation of the presence of hydroxyl radicals during pre-ripening of alkali cellulose.
  7. Henniges, U.; Kloser, E.; Patel, A.; Potthast, A.; Kosma, P.; Fischer, M.; Fischer, K.; Rosenau, T. Cellulose 2007, 14, 497-511. Studies on cellulose integrity in DMSO-containing carbanilation mixtures.
  8. Adelwöhrer, C.; Yoneda, Y.; Nakatsubo, F.; Rosenau, T. J. Labeled Comp. Radiopharm. 2008, 51, 28-32. Synthesis of the perdeuterated cellulose solvents N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO-d11) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc-d9).