Cellulose reaction with sodium azide

Figure 2. Hydrolysis of 14C-cellohexaose (G6) by BS and BI celluloses. The enzymes were purified to homogeneity (3) and incubated with pure uniformly-labeled cellohexaose as described in earlier tests with other celloaextrins (19). Reaction mixtures (0.3 mL) contained 1 mg substrate and cellulose (200 units) in 20mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.2, 0.03% sodium azide. They were incubated at 35°C and at intervals aliquots were removed and chromatographed. Cellodextrins with lower DP (Gt-G5) were located by radioautography and estimated by scintillation spectrometry (19).

Preparations of azide derivatives from styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, cellulose, and gelatin by attaching aromatic azide compounds are described in the literature [175]. Most of the resultant polymers cross-link rapidly when exposed to light of 260 pm wavelength. Also, as much as 90% of the hydroxy groups of poly(vinyl alcohol) can be esterified with p-azido-benzoyl chloride. These reactions must be carried out in mixtures of chloroform and aqueous sodium hydroxide [175]. Earlier, Merrill and Unruh [175] described formation of derivatives from poly(vinyl alcohol) and attachment of aromatic azide groups. 

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