Chain behavior of an amphoteric cellulose derivative: O-carboxymethyl-O-2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio) propylcellulose

The 13C NMR spin‐lattice relaxation times (T1) of anhydroglucose units vary with the number of substituents, and the T1 values of unsubstituted anhydroglucose units of O‐carboxymethylcellulose are longer than those of amylose. Those results indicate that in water, the rotational motions of anhydroglucose units of cellulose derivative are quite important local motions contributing to the 13C NMR spin‐lattice relaxation, and within a cellulose chain, anhydroglucose units rotate with different degrees of freedom depending on their environment. Moreover, the 13C NMR spin‐lattice relaxation data indicate that the mobilities of ionic substituents are dependent on substitution positions as well as their ionic interaction. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.