Cellulose–hydrazine complexes

Cellulose–hydrazine complexes have been prepared by soaking cellulose fibers in anhydrous hydrazine, and their structures have been investigated by x‐ray diffraction. The unit cells for the complexes formed by native ramie (cellulose I) and by Mercerized ramie and Fortisan (both cellulose II) have different dimensions, but all contain sections of four chains; and the x‐ray patterns suggest significant changes in the chain stagger, as compared with the uncomplexed structures. The differences between the Mercerized ramie and Fortisan complexes may reflect the differences in morphology and crystallinity of these materials. Reconversion to cellulose is effected by soaking in water. For the cellulose II complexes a hydrate intermediate is observed in this process. The hydrate is a two‐chain unit cell and contains approximately one water molecule per glucose residue.