GB344480A - Improvements in the manufacture of organic substitution derivatives of cellulose - Google Patents

Abstract

Nitrogen containing cellulose derivatives are obtained by reacting on a carboxy or hydroxy ester or ether of cellulose by the known methods for substituting amino or substituted amino groups for simple hydroxy groups or for hydroxy radicles in carboxy groups. The substitution may be effected by treatment with ammonia or with an organic amine, if desired in presence of sulphur dioxide. Cellulose derivatives containing a carboxy group may be heated in the form of their ammonium or amino salts, or alternatively the free cellulose carboxy acid or a salt or ester thereof may be heated with ammonia or an amine or a salt thereof. Or the substitution may be carried out in two stages, for example by first replacing the hydroxy groups by halogen atoms, and then substituting the halogen atoms by amino groups. The halogenation of the cellulose derivatives may be carried out according to the process of Specification 344,529. The substitution by amino groups is preferably effected by treating with ammonia under pressure, or by boiling with an organic amine in presence of a solvent or non-solvent diluent for the cellulose ester or ether treated. Products containing carboxylic acid amide groups may be further treated so as to convert these groups into simple amino groups, for example, by reacting with hypochlorites or hypobromites. Derivatives containing primary or secondary amino groups may, if desired, be acylated, alkylated, or further alkylated or aralkylated, and when the initial cellulose derivatives are not completely etherified or esterified, subsequent etherification or acylation may result in an etherification or acylation of the remaining hydroxy groups in the cellulose molecule. By effecting the reactions in the presence of nonsolvent diluents, derivatives having the fibrous structure of cellulose are obtained. According to examples, (1) cellulose glycollic acid dissolved or suspended in benzene is treated with thionyl chloride, the excess thionylchloride and the benzene being subsequently removed under reduced pressure. The halogenated product is heated under pressure with aqueous ammonia at 100-110 DEG C. (2) Oxyethyl cellulose is treated as above. (3) Cellulose malonate, phthalate, malate, or maleate is treated with thionyl chloride as in (1) above, and the product boiled with excess of aniline. (4) The ammonium salt of cellulose glycollic acid or of the oxalic or maleic acid ester of cellulose is suspended in anthracene oil and heated to 180-220 DEG C. (5) The product of example (1) is suspended in water and added with cooling to a suspension of slaked lime and bleaching powder. Sodium carbonate is then slowly added over a period of three hours, after which the temperature is brought up to 70-75 DEG C. The products may be formed into filaments or the like having an affinity for acid wool colours. Specifications 166,767, 277,721, 316,160, 320,842, [all in Class 2 (ii), Cellulose &c.], and 343,521 also are referred to.