Cationically modified, cellulose-containing materials

Cationically modified cellulose material which contains at least 0.4% by weight of basic nitrogen and has a cationic constituent derived from a quaternary ammonium of the formula ##STR32## in which V.sub.2 and V.sub.3 independently of one another denote hydrogen, lower alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxy or lower alkoxy, or benzyl or the group of the formula (5) ##STR33## any two of R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and V.sub.2, together with the nitrogen atom which links them, denote a pyridine ring which is optionally substituted by lower alkyl and An.sup..crclbar. denotes the anion of an organic or inorganic acid and R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 independently of one another denote hydrogen, lower alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl, cyano, halogen or lower alkoxy, or cycloalkyl, benzyl or the group of the formula (5) ##STR34## or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, together with the nitrogen atom which links them, denote a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic radical or, if n is 1, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, together with the grouping >N-Q.sub.1 -N<

• which links them, also denote a divalent heterocyclic radical, especially a piperazino ring, R" represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, Q and Q.sub.1 represent alkylene or alkyl-substituted alkylene and with up to 8 carbon atoms Y represents hydrogen, lower alkyl or --CH.sub.2 OR"--, and n denotes 1 to 1000, and at least one of R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, V.sub.2 and V.sub.3 represents the group of the formula (5) and, if n denotes more than 1, each R.sub.5, or each V.sub.3, independently of the others, can represent hydrogen, lower alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxyl or lower alkoxy, or benzyl or the group of the formula (5), or each R.sub.5, or individual R.sub.5 s, together with the adjacent R.sub.5 and with the common grouping >N-Q.sub.1 -N<, also represent a divalent heterocyclic radical, especially a piperazino ring.