Cellulose sulfate: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the ring-opening of epoxides with alcohols and anilines

Cellulose sulfate was synthesized by esterification of α-cellulose with concentrated sulfuric acid at −10°C in ethanol. Cellulose is mainly sulfated on 3-, 6- and 3, 6-positions of the cellulose. It acts as a heterogeneous catalyst for the ring-opening of epoxides with alcohols or anilines and the Friedel-Crafts reaction between N-benzylindole and crotonaldehyde at room temperature. Methanolysis of cyclic epoxides, styrene oxide, terminal aliphatic epoxides, and glycidyl ethers were carried out using the catalyst (0.4–6.8 mg/mmol of epoxide) and afforded the corresponding products in 53–97% isolated yields after 10 min–24 h. Cellulose sulfate was successfully recycled and reused up to 3 catalytic cycles for the ring-opening of styrene oxide with methanol.