 Malm et al., records the preparation of phthalic acid derivatives of ethyl-cellulose and cellulose acetate without the use of pyridine by substituting sodium acetate as catalyst and acetic acid as a reaction solvent.Phthalyl content of the derivatives produced by this method is inversely dependent on the reaction temperature, although the rate of phthalyl introduction is faster at high temperatures.Phthalyl content also depends on proportions of acetic acid, as a reaction solvent

CAP has been used for several decades as a pharmaceutical excipient due to its solubility dependent on the pH of the aqueous media.