Click Modification for Polysaccharides via Novel Tunnel Transmission Phenomenon in Ionic Liquids

It is extremely difficult to achieve a rapid and efficient modification of natural polysaccharides, due to the intrinsic strong hydrogen bonding networks and the slow mass transfer process during the reaction process. Herein, we found a fascinating anion-tunnel transmission phenomenon in the imidazolium-based ionic liquids with carboxylate anions. A novel click esterification of natural polysaccharides thus was demonstrated under a catalyst-free condition within a very short reaction time of 15 min at 0-80°C. Such a super-rapid and highly efficient modification strategy is available for various polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, inulin, pullulan, dextran, and xylan), different esterification reactions (acetification, propionation, benzoylation, and cyclohexyl formylation), and high concentrations, claiming a revolutionary potential in polysaccharide chemistry industries.