beta-Cyclodextrin (Cycloheptaamylose)

"Cyclodextrins (sometimes called cycloamyloses) make up a family of cyclic oligosaccharides, composed of 5 or more alpha-D-glucopyranoside units linked 1->4, as in amylose (a fragment of starch). The 5-membered macrocycle is not natural. Recently, the largest well-characterized cyclodextrin contains 32 1,4-anhydroglucopyranoside units, while as a poorly characterized mixture, even at least 150-membered cyclic oligosaccharides are also known. Typical cyclodextrins contain a number of glucose monomers ranging from six to eight units in a ring, creating a cone shape. thus denoting:, alpha-cyclodextrin: six sugar ring molecule beta-cyclodextrin: seven sugar ring molecule, gamma-cyclodextrin: eight sugar ring molecule, Cyclodextrins are produced from starch by means of enzymatic conversion. Over the last few years they have found a wide range of applications in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries as well as agriculture and environmental engineering. It is also the chief active compound found in Procter and Gamble's deodorizing product ""Febreze"". Specific Rotation (C1, H2O): +159° to +164° , Loss on Drying: , <10%, Solubility: Colorless, clear to slighty turbid, complete, Residue after Ignition (Sulfate): <0.3%"