Abstract: Cellulose laurate was prepared using microcrystalline cellulose as the raw material and lauroyl chloride and pyridine as catalyst under homogeneous reaction conditions.Effects of dosage of lauroyl chloride, reaction temperature, and reaction time on yield and the degree of substitution(DS) of cellulose were investigated. The optimal preparation conditions of cellulose laurate were as follows: dosage of lauroyl chloride 16 mol (based on molar of—OH), reaction temperature 100 ℃, reaction time 10 h, the DS and yield of cellulose laurate was reached 248 and 3108 % respectively. The results of FTIR and 1HNMR indicated that the esterification had indeed occurred. Dynamic contact angle measurements of cellulose ester revealed that contact angle increased with increasing the DS and better hydrophobic property could be achieved on the condition of DS>16.