For better understanding of the roles of cellulose reducing ends during thermal degradation of cellulose and wood, cellulose samples impregnated with methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (Glc beta OMe), a simple non-reducing sugar model, were pyrolyzed under N-2 at relatively low temperatures of 200-280 degrees C. By the impregnation, cellulose was rather stabilized against discoloration and weight-loss through converting the reducing ends into the glycosides with Glc beta OMe. Alternatively, polymerization and discoloration of Glc beta OMe were accelerated in the presence of cellulose. A mechanism via reducing sugars as reactive intermediates formed through hydrolysis is proposed to explain these phenomena. These information would be useful to understand the interactions between cellulose and hemicellulose in wood cell wall as well as the role of the reducing ends in cellulose thermal degradation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.