The Selective Denitration of Cellulose Nitrates

Note:Cellulose nitrate was subjected to decomposition in various basic reagents in order to discover conditions that would differentiate between the three kinds or nitrate groups in the substance. Two new selective reactions which remove one third of these groups without affecting the remainder are described, and the products of denitration characterized. The product in the first reaction was a cellulose dinitrate end those in the second reaction were the 0-methyl oxime and the oxime of a monocarbonyl oxycellulose dinitrate. Possible mechanisms for the denitration reactions are presented, and derivatives of the products described. This research formed part or the confidential N.R.C. war project XR-'74