AbstractIt is postulated from energetic considerations that the anhydrocellobiose unit in cellulose I has a conformation differing from that in cellulose II. Conformation I has two intramolecular hydrogen bonds, while conformation II has only one. This difference arises from a different orientation of the C(6)‐hydroxyl group in the two conformations. Their interconversion is shown to be dependent upon the polarity of the medium. The assignment of conformation I to cellulose I and conformation II to cellulose II and the equilibrium between them appear to be consistent with a number of experimental observations reported in the literatur
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