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Kinetic profiles were investigated for the pyridine catalysed reaction of Corsican (CP) and Scots pine (SP) sapwood with a homologous series of linear chain carboxylic anhydrides namely, acetic (AA), propionic (PA), butyric, valeric and hexanoic (HA). With AA. it has been found that the reaction profiles are described by a model where diffusion dominates the reaction process, that is to say that reaction of the reagent molecules with a specific reaction site is rapid compared with diffusion. With longer chain anhydrides, the rate of chemical reaction and diffusion both contributed to the reaction kinetics. The reaction activation energies (Ea) were detennined for the catalysed reaction of pyridine swollen pine sapwood samples and phenolic model compounds (in solution) with the series of anhydrides, using the methods of initial rates and rate constants. Both methods resulted in comparable values. The wood species did not influence the Ea. With wood samples, the Ea was largest for the reaction of AA, and decreased as the molecular weight of the anhydride increased. When the reactions were performed in homogeneous solutions, there was no correlation molecular weight of anhydride and Ea. It is suggested that the lower values obtained for the Ea for reaction with wood are related to the restricted space surrounding the accessible hydroxyl groups (OH). The cell wall micropore network of oven-dried (OD) CP and SP sapwood was investigated by reaction with AA and PA in a non-swelling solvent (xylene) and with swollen wood. Significant differences in reactivity were found between species. The volumetric changes in CP and SP sapwood due to modification with the series of anhydrides were studied. Again significant differences in the response of the wood cell wall were found between species. A comprehensive investigation into the water sorptive properties and into the effect of molecular size of the substituent group upon the sorption of water vapour of softwood modified with the series of anhydrides was perfonned. The sorption isotherms for untreated and chemically modified wood were analysed using the Hailwood-Horrobin model. The results are interpreted by consideration of both the number of OH groups reacted and the volume occupied by adduct in the cell wall. It is considered that the latter effect is more important. In the final part of this study, an approach was made to investigate the cell wall porosity of unmodified and modified wood, using the nitrogen adsorption technique. Results indicated that the true porosity of the cell wall was not determined by this technique.