Regioselective Alkylation of β-Cyclodextrin

Methodology for preparation of heptakis(2,6-di-O-alkyl)-β-cyclodextrins, heptakis(2-O-alkyl)-β- cyclodextrins, and heptakis(6-O-alkyl)-β-cyclodextrins in substantially purified form has been developed. Treatment of β-cyclodextrin (1) with sodium or barium hydroxide and various alkyl halides in dimethyl sulfoxide or a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and N,N-dimethylformamide provided the corresponding heptakis(2,6-di-O-alkyl)-β-cyclodextrins. Treatment of heptakis(6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl)-β-cyclodextrin (5) with sodium hydroxide and several haloalkanes in dimethyl sulfoxide followed by desilylation provided heptakis(2-O-alkyl)-β-cyclodextrins. Protection of the secondary hydroxy groups of the t-butyldimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin (5) as benzyl ethers, followed by desilylation, alkylation, and debenzylation afforded several heptakis(6-O-alkyl)-β-cyclodextrins. Analytical methodology has been developed to characterize all of these compounds, with the homogeneity of the pattern of substitution verified by h.p.l.c. analysis, f.a.b.–mass spectrometry and n.m.r. spectroscopy.