Facile Esterification of Degraded and Non‐Degraded Starch

The iodine‐catalyzed esterification (acetylation and propionation) and esterification with longer fatty acids of white dextrins (degraded starches) and “waxy potato” starch containing more than 95% amylopectin are reported. The degree of substitution can be finely tuned by a simple variation of the catalyst versus the amount of anhydroglucose units. Longer fatty acids can be readily converted using 1‐methylimidazole as a solvent. The esterified carbohydrates are attractive for industrial purposes, offering high functionality, a broad variety of functional groups, high solubility, and a unique rheological behavior.