Inhomogeneity in the molecular structure of cellulose nitrates

The results of studies on the molecular structures of cellulose nitrates and related saccharide nitrates are surveyed. The inhomogeneity of the structures of cellulose nitrates can be analysed on three hierarchical levels: in terms of the composition of the elementary units, in terms of the distribution of the elementary units along the chain, and in terms of their distribution in the bulk phase. The possibilities of NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy for studies of these structural levels are discussed. A simple method has been developed for the estimation of the molecular-structural inhomogeneity of cellulose nitrates. It is shown that this inhomogeneity is determined by the inhomogeneity of the nitration process. A procedure is proposed for taking into account the diffusion of the nitrating agent in studies of the kinetics of the inhomogeneneous reactions. The bibliography includes 121 references.