Efficient Cleavage of Permethylated Cyclodextrins

The cleavage of a permethylated α-cyclodextrin, that is, purity and chemical yield of a maltohexaose derivative thus obtained, was decisively affected by the reaction time. The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry spectra with synthetic data enable us to improve the cleavage reaction more efficiently. The optimized conditions developed in the present study allow us to cleave the permethylated γ-cyclodextrin to afford a maltooctaose derivative as a new synthetic building block in a high chemical yield.