TBAF and Cellulose Esters:Unexpected Deacylationwith Unexpected Regioselectivity.

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride has been found to catalyzethe deacylationof cellulose esters. More surprisingly, the deacylation is highlyregioselective. Even more remarkably, in contrast with the C-6 regioselectivityof other reactions of cellulose and its derivatives, this deacylationshows substantial selectivity for the removal of the acyl groups fromthe esters of the secondary alcohols at C-2 and C-3, affording cellulose-6-O-esterswith high regioselectivity by a simple one-step process employingno protective groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]