Reversibly crosslinked cellulose ethers and process for the production thereof by selective oxidation of vicinal OH groups

Reversibly crosslinked, water-soluble cellulose ethers having at least two different ether components is disclosed. At least one ether component is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or carboxymethyl group and at least one is an alkyl group having an aldehyde function which forms hydrolyzable hemiacetals with free OH groups of the cellulose ether. The cellulose ethers are obtainable by selective oxidation of cellulose ethers containing alkyl groups having vicinal OH groups (glycol cleavage). Preferably, water-soluble cellulose ethers are co-etherified simultaneously or subsequently with 2,3-epoxypropanol (glycidol) or 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol and the 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ether groups converted entirely or partly into 2-oxoethyl ether groups by oxidation. Suitable oxidants include periodate, periodic acid or lead tetraacetate. After washing and drying, cellulose ethers reversibly crosslinked via hemiacetals can be dispersed in water or aqueous solutions, going into solution homogeneously with a time delay. No low molecular weight dialdehydes or other problematical crosslinking reagents are liberated on dissolution.