Thomas Heinze · Tim Liebert · Andreas Koschella Esterification of Polysaccharides With 131 Figures, 105 Tables, and CD-ROM Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES 1 2 STRUCTURE OF POLYSACCHARIDES . 5 2.1 Structural Features . 5 2.1.1 Cellulose . 6 2.1.2 β-(1→3)-Glucans . 7 2.1.3 Dextran 8 2.1.4 Pullulan 8 2.1.5 Starch . 9 2.1.6 Hemicelluloses 9 2.1.7 Guar . 12 2.1.8 Inulin 12 2.1.9 Chitin and Chitosan . 12 2.1.10 Alginates . 14 3 ANALYSIS OF POLYSACCHARIDE STRUCTURES . 15 3.1 Optical Spectroscopy . 16 3.2 NMR Spectroscopy . 18 3.2.1 13C NMR Spectroscopy . 19 3.2.2 1H NMR Spectroscopy . 26 3.2.3 Two-dimensional NMR Techniques 31 3.2.4 Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry 34 4 ESTERS OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS – CONVENTIONAL METHODS 41 4.1 Acylation with Carboxylic Acid Chlorides and Anhydrides . 41 4.1.1 Heterogeneous Acylation – Industrial Processes . 41 4.1.2 Heterogeneous Conversion in the Presence of a Base . 46 5 NEW PATHS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF ORGANIC ESTER MOIETIES 53 5.1 Media for Homogeneous Reactions . 53 5.1.1 Aqueous Media . 54 5.1.2 Non-aqueous Solvents . 57 5.1.3 Multicomponent Solvents 62 5.1.4 Soluble Polysaccharide Intermediates 70