Kinetics and mechanism of imidazole-catalyzed acylation of cellulose in LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide

► Kinetics of cellulose acylation is conveniently studied by conductivity. ► Acylation of cellulose is not catalyzed by tosyl chloride. ► Imidazole catalysis occurs via intermediate formation of N-acylimidazole. ► Dependence on structure of N-acylimidazole is due to enthalpy/entropy compensation. ► Reason for catalysis is lower enthalpy and higher entropy of activation.