Abstract: Method of manufacturing deoxycellulose compounds from cellulose in aprotic solvents with LiCl and/or CaCl.sub.2, with the solvent, in addition to LiCl or CaCl.sub.2, additionally containing bromides, iodides, rhodanides, or dithiocarbamates of the alkaline and/or alkaline earth metals, and the cellulose initially being dissolved in the mixture of aprotic solvent and salts, with a base and/or a basic salt being added at room temperature, and a sulfonic acid halide being added corresponding to the desired degree of substitution, and then being caused to react at temperatures between 16.degree. C. and 100.degree. C.