Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was selected as substrate for amidation based on previous results described for monocarboxy cellulose (MCC) with the aim to prepare highly substituted products. In comparison with MCC containing uronic carboxyl groups at C-6 position, O-carboxymethyl groups in CMC should be more accessible for reagents because they are more distant from the polysaccharide chain. Two-step way of amidation was based on the esterification of CMC carboxyls by reaction with methanol and further amino-de-alkoxylation (aminolysis) of the obtained methyl ester with amidation reagents (n-alkylamines, hydrazine and hydroxylamine). Purity and substitution degree of the products were monitored by the vibration spectroscopic methods (FTIR and Raman) and organic elemental analysis. Analytical methods confirmed the preparation of highly or moderately substituted N-alkylamides, hydrazide and hydroxamic acid of CMC.
