Photoreactive cellulose derivatives with comb‐like structure, 1. Modification of O‐trialkylsilylcellulose with cinnamic acid‐containing side chains

Trimethyl‐ and tert ‐butyldimethylsilylcellulose were esterified with cinnamic acid, 4‐nitrocinnamic acid, 4‐(hexyloxy)cinnamic acid, 4‐(hexadecyloxy)cinnamic acid and N ‐cinnamoyl‐11‐aminoundecanoic acid yielding photosensitive comb‐like cellulose derivatives. The UV‐irradiation of solid films of tert ‐butyldimethylsilylcellulose cinnamate, trimethylsilylcellulose 4‐nitrocinnamate and tert ‐butyldimethylsilylcellulose‐4‐hexyloxycinnamate were performed and the decrease of the absorption maxima was correlated with E/Z isomerisation and [2 + 2]‐cycloaddition. A possible application of the described photoreactive cellulose esters in the area of membrane technology is discussed.