Novel cellulose derivatives. I. Liquid crystal phase formation in tri‐O‐α‐naphthylmethyl cellulose solutions

Tri‐O‐α‐naphthylmethyl cellulose was prepared by homogeneous phase reaction using SO2–diethylamine (DEA)–dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the solvent system. Observations made by dynamic mechanical spectrometry and by cross‐polarized optical microscopy revealed liquid crystalline behavior for the concentrated solutions of tri‐O‐α‐naphthylmethyl cellulose in dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Experimental and calculated (predicted) critical volume fraction of the derivative, Vcp, did not show agreement. It is determined that Vcp is affected by bulky substituents on the cellulose backbone to some extent.