Cellulose Chemistry and Technology

Title
Contribution to the historical development of macromolecular chemistry - exemplified on cellulose
Authors
Peter Zugenmaier

Received October 20, 2009
Published Volume 43 Issue 9-10 October-December
Keywords cellulose constitution, structure, molecular weight; primary valence bonds of cellulose and

Abstract
The development of the structure determination for cellulose and its derivatives as macromolecules is described from the beginning of the 20th century to the 1940s. The first correct presentation of the constitution of cellulose as a linear chain macromolecule of 1-4 linked ?-D-anhydroglucopyranose, with the help of organic chemistry, dates from 1928. The size and shape of cellulose molecules still remained a controversial topic for some time. On the one hand, there were proposals of micelles i.e. aggregates of cyclic mono- or oligoanhydroglucose or micelles of small macromolecules of 30-50 glucose units. On the other hand, cellulose was seen as large macromolecules with more than 3000 glucose units for structures considered in solution as well as in fibres. The final clarification of the cellulose structure as a semi-flexible macromolecule of high molecular weight was extremely hindered by the inadequate interpretation of experimental results. Later, additional experimental and theoretical methods led to a consistent picture of the cellulose structure with high precision.