Formation and stability of cellulose–copper–NaOH crystalline complex

We investigated the crystal structure of alkali-celluloses, Na-cellulose IIA and II(Cu), formerly known as Na-cellulose IIB, by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Na-cellulose IIA, formed from cellulose I by high-concentration NaOH treatment, has a fiber repeat of 15 Å and a threefold-like helical conformation. Na-cellulose II(Cu), prepared by treating cellulose I with copper-saturated alkali solution, also has a fiber repeat of 15 Å with threefold helical symmetry. Incorporation of Cu(II) ions into cellulose was confirmed by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction. Monitoring by X-ray diffraction revealed that the formation of this complex from cellulose I is remarkably slow, probably because of the involvement of copper ion. The stability of alkali-cellulose II(Cu) was tested to estimate the influence of the presence of copper in the crystal. Na-cellulose II(Cu) characteristically dissolved in aqueous ammonia solution, indicating strong coordination of copper ion to cellulose.