Selectively monomodified cyclodextrins. Synthetic strategies

Monomodifications of cyclodextrins to give selectively 2-, 3-, or 6-substituted product is a challenging task because of the number of hydroxyl groups that can potentially react with the incoming reagent. The principles and the methods involved in manipulations of the differences in the chemistry of these hydroxyl groups to control the outcome of an electrophilic reaction with them to produce monoalkylated (ether-linkaged) cyclodextrin derivatives are discussed and illustrated.