(c) Cellulose and oxycellulose nitrates.—The nitric esters of cellulose have a strong reducting action on alkaline copper solutions. The author has studied this reaction quantitatively for the esters both of cellulose and oxycellulose, at two stages of 'nitration,' represented by 8.2-8.6 p.ct. and 13.5-13.9 p.ct. total nitrogen in the ester-products, respectively. The results are expressed in terms (c.c.) of the cupric reagent (Pasteur) reduced per 100 grs. compared with dextrose (=17767).
| Cellulose maximum nitration (13.5 p.ct. N) | 3640 |
| Oxycellulose maximum nitration (13.9 p.ct. N) | 3600 |
| Cellulose minimum nitration (8.19 p.ct. N) | 3700 |
| Oxycellulose minimum nitration (8.56 p.ct. N) | 3620 |
The author concludes that, since the reducing action is independent of the degree of nitration, and is the same for cellulose and the oxycelluloses, the ester reaction in the case of the normal cellulose is accompanied by oxidation, the product being an oxycellulose ester.
Products of 'denitration'.—The esters were treated with ferrous chloride in boiling aqueous solution. The products were oxycelluloses, with a cupric reduction equal to that of an oxycellulose directly prepared by the action of HClO3. On the other hand, by treatment with ammonium sulphide at 35°-40° 'denitrated' products were obtained without action on alkaline copper solutions.
OXYCELLULOSES AND THE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF CELLULOSE.
H. Nastukoff (Berl. Ber. 33 [13] 2237).
(p. 61) The author continues his investigations of the oxidation of cellulose. [Compare Bull. Mulhouse, 1892.] The products described were obtained by the action of hypochlorites and permanganates upon Swedish filter paper (Schleicher and Schüll).
4. Oxidation by hypochlorites.—(1) The cellulose was digested 24 hrs. with 35 times its weight of a filtered solution of bleaching power of 4°B.; afterwards drained and exposed for 24 hrs. to the atmosphere. These treatments were then repeated. After washing, treatment with dilute acetic acid and again washing, the product was treated with a 10 p.ct. NaOH solution. The oxycellulose was precipitated from the filtered solution: yield 45 p.ct. The residue when purified amounted to 30 p.ct. of the original cellulose, with which it was identical in all essential properties.
The oxycellulose, after purification, dried at 110°, gave the following analytical numbers:
| C | 43.64 | 43.78 | 43.32 | 43.13 | |
| H | 6.17 | 6.21 | 5.98 | 6.08 |