A regioselectively substituted cellulose ester comprising: (i) a plurality of R 1 -CO- substituents; and (ii) a plurality of hydroxyl substituents, wherein the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C2 position ("C2DS R1 ") is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0, wherein the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C3 position ("C3DS R1 ") is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0, wherein the degree of substitution of hydroxyl is in the range of from about 0 to about 2.6, and wherein R 1 is chosen from (C 1-20)alkyl; halo(C 1-20)alkyl; (C 2-20)alkenyl, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-20)aryl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 6 R 2 groups; or a 5- to 20 membered heteroaryl containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 6 R 3 groups, wherein R 2 is chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl, halo(C 1-6)alkyl, (C 1-6)alkoxy, halo(C 1-6)alkoxy, halo, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-10)aryl, or nitro, and wherein R 3 is chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl, halo(C 1-6)alkyl, (C 1-6)alkoxy, halo(C 1-6)alkoxy, halo, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-10)aryl, or nitro; characterized in that the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C6 position ("C6DS R1 ") is less than 0.1; the degree of substitution and the relative degree of substitution of the various acyl groups of the cellulose esters and the proton and carbon NMR assignments being determined as defined in the description by adapting the procedures disclosed in US 2012/0262650, wherein the C2, C3, and C6 DS being determined by 13C NMR and the total DS for any substituent being determined by 1H NMR. (i) a plurality of R 1 -CO- substituents; and (ii) a plurality of hydroxyl substituents, wherein the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C2 position ("C2DS R1 ") is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0, wherein the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C3 position ("C3DS R1 ") is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0, wherein the degree of substitution of hydroxyl is in the range of from about 0 to about 2.6, and wherein R 1 is chosen from (C 1-20)alkyl; halo(C 1-20)alkyl; (C 2-20)alkenyl, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-20)aryl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 6 R 2 groups; or a 5- to 20 membered heteroaryl containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 6 R 3 groups, wherein R 2 is chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl, halo(C 1-6)alkyl, (C 1-6)alkoxy, halo(C 1-6)alkoxy, halo, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-10)aryl, or nitro, and wherein R 3 is chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl, halo(C 1-6)alkyl, (C 1-6)alkoxy, halo(C 1-6)alkoxy, halo, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-10)aryl, or nitro; characterized in that the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C6 position ("C6DS R1 ") is less than 0.1; the degree of substitution and the relative degree of substitution of the various acyl groups of the cellulose esters and the proton and carbon NMR assignments being determined as defined in the description by adapting the procedures disclosed in US 2012/0262650, wherein the C2, C3, and C6 DS being determined by 13C NMR and the total DS for any substituent being determined by 1H NMR. wherein the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C2 position ("C2DS R1 ") is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0, wherein the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C3 position ("C3DS R1 ") is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1.0, wherein the degree of substitution of hydroxyl is in the range of from about 0 to about 2.6, and wherein R 1 is chosen from (C 1-20)alkyl; halo(C 1-20)alkyl; (C 2-20)alkenyl, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-20)aryl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 6 R 2 groups; or a 5- to 20 membered heteroaryl containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 6 R 3 groups, wherein R 2 is chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl, halo(C 1-6)alkyl, (C 1-6)alkoxy, halo(C 1-6)alkoxy, halo, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-10)aryl, or nitro, and wherein R 3 is chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl, halo(C 1-6)alkyl, (C 1-6)alkoxy, halo(C 1-6)alkoxy, halo, (C 3-7)cycloalkyl, (C 6-10)aryl, or nitro; characterized in that the degree of substitution of R 1 -CO- at the C6 position ("C6DS R1 ") is less than 0.1; the degree of substitution and the relative degree of substitution of the various acyl groups of the cellulose esters and the proton and carbon NMR assignments being determined as defined in the description by adapting the procedures disclosed in US 2012/0262650, wherein the C2, C3, and C6 DS being determined by 13C NMR and the total DS for any substituent being determined by 1H NMR.