Diethylaminoethyl Cellulose (DEAE-C) between Chromatography and Synthetic Applications

The aim of this review is to point out the attention of the reader to the use of DEAE-C in organic reactions, possibly not only devoted to the preparation of heterocycles but potentially extending to other classes of organic compounds. Being DEAE-C an ammonium salt commonly used in chromatographic applications, it can be considered as a potential mild acid catalyst or a proton donor and these features can in theory catalyze standard acid-catalyzed organic reactions. In addition, the resin nature of DEAE-C could suggest the way to perform organic reactions in the solid state.