TEMPO-oxidation of cellulose: Synthesis and characterisation of polyglucuronans

A series of pseudo amorphous cellulose samples were reacted with catalytic amounts of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine oxoammonium salt (TEMPO), sodium hypochlorite and sodium bromide in water. In all samples the primary alcohol groups were selectively oxidised into carboxyl groups, and several water-soluble polyglucuronic acid sodium salts were obtained with different molecular weights. With this reaction system, the degradation of the amorphous cellulose samples may be minimized, provided the oxidation is performed at 4 degrees C and at constant pH 10, with controlled amounts of TEMPO and sodium hypochlorite.