Detection, cellulosic mesophases

The cholesteric mesophase was detected in cellulose daivatives for the first time in aqueous solutions of a cellulose ether, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) [1], studied in the overwhelming majority of the publications [32] ... 

As a consequence, HPC served as the basis for the preparation of other derivatives such as n-acyl and aromatic derivatives, for example. Cholesteric mesophases (ethylcellulose, cellulose tricarbanilate) were also detected among the known cellulose ethers. 

It should be noted that the cholesteric type of mesophase of polymers is apparently much more common than is generally believed. The presence of rigid-chain or semirigid-chain macromolecules with a chiral center is determining for the realization of this type of structure. The recent communications concerning the detection of the cholesteric mesophase for such long studied polymers as methylamylase [45] and cellulose xanthates, ethyl acetate, and triacetate [46-47] are evidence of the above. 

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