Physical Properties of the Cycloamyloses

1 Cycloamyloses are also referred to as eyelodextrins, eycloglucans, or Schardinger dextrins, preceded, in each case, by a Greek letter to denote the number of glucose units ( - for 6, 0- for 7, y- for 8, etc.). 

Because of the conformational restraints imposed on the cycloamyloses by their looped arrangement, it is reasonable to assume that the structural features derived for the crystalline state will be retained in solution. This has been confirmed in recent years by means of a variety of spectroscopic techniques. Nuclear magnetic resonance (Rao and Foster, 1963 Glass, 

Nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra of the cycloamyloses in aprotic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide indicate that intramolecular 

In summary, although subtle conformational differences between the various cycloamyloses and the effect of intramolecular hydrogen bonds on their solution conformations remain to be accurately resolved, overall structural features have been clearly defined. This is particularly advantageous and, in fact, a prerequisite if the cycloamyloses are to be profitably used as models for enzymatic or other catalytic processes. In subsequent sections of this article, various aspects of binding and catalysis will be explained on the basis of the chemical nature and geometrical dimensions of the cycloamylose cavity which is, in fact, their active site. 

The ability of the cycloamyloses to form insoluble crystalline complexes with relatively simple alcohols was recognized by Villiers (1891) and 

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