Cellulose-click-ferrocenes as docking spots for cyclodextrin

A novel synthesis of ferrocene-modified cellulose, prepared from 6-azido-6-deoxy-cellulose and ethynylferrocene, is presented. The two components were coupled via copper-catalyzed click-type cycloaddition under microwave-assisted conditions. The surface structure of the cellulose derivative was investigated in comparison with that of pure, microcrystalline cellulose using electron microscopy (scanning, transmission and scanning transmission), showing iron atoms of ferrocene as homogeneously distributed particles. They are detectable as clear signals in the energy-dispersive X-ray profile. In addition, Rame-β-cyclodextrin was supramolecularly attached to cellulose and the complex formed was …