Levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranose), cellobiose (beta-D-glucopyranosyl-[1 --> 4]-D-glucopyranose), tri-O-acetyl-levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranose-2,3,4-triacetate) and cellobiose octaacetate have been studied with regard to their suitability as model compounds for thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation with tetramethylammonium hydroxide of cellulose and cellulose acetate. In addition, the results of analytical pyrolysis of methyl cellulose were compared with those of thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation, to distinguish between products arising from alkaline hydrolysis and pyrolytic cleavage, respectively. Parameters such as surplus of tetramethylammonium hydroxide, water content prior to pyrolysis and pyrolysis temperature were varied to find the optimal thermochemolysis procedure for cellulosic samples. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.