Labile products of interaction of cellulose with nitrogen oxide compounds

Data on kinetics and conditions of formation, identification and isolation techniques, chemical, and physical properties, as well as crystal structure of cellulose trinitrite are presented. The conditions of formation of the Knecht sorption compound and other unstable crystalline products in the N2O4 - cellulose system are discussed. A paramount importance of these labile derivatives is shown for the polymorphism manifested by the cellulose when regenerated from these compounds. The reasons for cellulose amorphisation, possible in such systems, are considered. Examples are given of combined utilisation of several functions of the reaction medium and of the labile nitrogen-containing compound for the preparation of other important compounds (sulfo- and aceto-esters, structurally and chemically modified powder forms of cellulose) on the basis of polysaccharides.