Molecular Recognition

 Cyclodextrins are used for selective binding.  

(a) Detection of the optical purity of optically active compounds e.g. α-pinene (J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1993, 1085.)

(b) Utilisation for the enantiomeric separation of Bactrocera Oleae sex pheromone (spiroacetal) with permethylated CDs :

Fig. 4 (Left) Selective precipitation of (R)-spiroacetal with permethylated βCD (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1996, 35, 2480);(Right) Chiral discrimination of (S)-spiroacetal by permethylated β-CD (Acta Crystallogr. 2001, B57, 399)

(c) Selective binding of γ-Cyclodextrin with Glucose Phosphorylase b at the storage site of the enzyme (Protein Sci. 2003,12, 1914, in collaboration with Dr. N. Oikonomacos, Hellenic Research Foundation).

Fig. 5 γCD (in red) binds to the storage site of the Glucose Phosphorylase b dimer