Synthesis of assembled cellulose molecules with anti-parallel orientation: Towards a deep understanding of Marcerization of cellulose

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22334
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 40:Forestry and forest products science, applied aquatic science, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kamitakahara Hiroshi 京都大学, 農学研究科, 教授 (10293911)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: セルロース

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We planned and synthesized 4 two-chain assemblies of cellobiose molecules with parallel and anti-parallel orientations according to the synthetic strategies of end-functionalization of cellulose at the reducing- and/or non-reducing ends towards a deep understanding of Marcerization of cellulose. Moreover, two-chain assembly of cellulose molecules with parallel orientation was prepared based on the aforementioned synthetic strategy. As a result, the alkali treatment of two-chain assembly of cellulose acetate with parallel orientation afforded two-chain assembly of cellulose molecules with parallel orientation having Cellulose-II crystal structure, which is believed to possess anti-parallel orientation of cellulose. This finding is of academic significance, and will influence industrial use of cellulose.

Free Research Field

セルロース化学、木材化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

セルロースのマーセル化は、染色性が向上するなど繊維産業では重要な技術である。本研究では、セロビオースをセルロースのモデル化合物として、平行、および逆平行の４種類の２本鎖セルロース集合体の合成に成功し、基本的な合成戦略を確立した。また、逆平行鎖セルロース分子集合体の合成は未了であるが、平行鎖セルロース集合体の合成を行い、従来、逆平行鎖と考えられているCellulose-II型のセルロース結晶構造を得たことは学術的に興味深い。本研究の成果はセルロースの基礎科学に新しい知見を加えたという社会的意義がある。