The remarkable efficiency of biochemical reactions is the result of biological evolution, often involving confined water. We elaborate the role of confined water in cellulose chemistry and demonstrate that such water promotes chemical surface reactions and can be used to control their regioselectivity, <i>i.e.</i>, it enables the preparation of spatially selectively modified cellulose. Based on this concept, we propose new straight-forward avenues to functional cellulose nanofibers,<sup>[2-4]</sup> which allow precise tuning of their surface chemistry, under mild, sustainable and aqueous conditions. We expect that these new methods will support in advancing currently used (nano)cellulose modification protocols, and the development of future high-performance materials.

Unique reactivity of cellulose mediated by confined water

ACS Spring 2022

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