A Simple Synthesis Route for Selectively Methylated β-Cyclodextrin Using a Copper Complex Sandwich Protecting Strategy.

This communication reports a novel synthesis route for the preparation of monofunctionalized β-cyclodextrin in a single stage. The approach involves only the in-situ protection of secondary hydroxyl groups as an excellent alternative to the classical procedure involving a series of five steps of protection and deprotection of hydroxyl groups (both primary and secondary ones) belonging to β-cyclodextrin.