β-Propiolactone was reacted with purified cotton in the presence of organic solvents. The reaction was found to be affected by time, temperature, and concentration of reagents. Weight gains of upwards of 60% were obtained.
In all reactions of purified cotton with β-propiolactone in organic solvents, etherification oc curs, apparently followed by polyesterification of the attached groups by additional lactone. At tempts to direct the reaction towards either etherification or esterification by means of acid and base catalysis were not successful.
Increases in the extent of reaction were obtained by "activation" of purified cotton with acetic acid prior to the treatments with β-propiolactone.
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