PREPARATION AND CHIROPTICAL PROPERTIES OF TRITYLATED CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES

Two specifically substituted cellulose derivatives, 6-O-trityl-2,3-di-O-benzylcellulose (TBzC) and 6-O-trityl-2,3-di-O-ethylcellulose (TEtC) were found to form lyotropic mesophases in concentrated solution with several organic solvents. The TBzC mesophase in bromoform exhibited cholesteric reflection colors. The cholesteric pitch, measured from the wavelength of apparent circular dichroism of the reflection band, increased with temperature and decreased with increasing polymer concentration. Measurements of the circular dichroism of dilute solutions of TBzC and TEtC showed peaks characteristic of the aromatic substituents, but the sign and magnitude of these peaks changed markedly upon mesophase formation. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.