Activating cellulose via its reversible reaction with CO2 in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene for the efficient synthesis of cellulose acetate

Reversible reaction of cellulose with CO₂ in DMSO/DBU results in a derivative dissolution of cellulose, which can be applied for the efficient acetylation of cellulose to afford cellulose acetates with degrees of substitution from 1.78–2.89.