Cyclodextrin combinations with azocompounds

Abstract

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides consisting of various numbers of α-1,4-linked glucose units (α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD for hexa-, hepta-and octamers, respectively). Larger homologues are recently described, cf., [1,2]. CDs form inclusion complexes with a variety of organic compounds [3]. Complexation influences solubility of organic guests in water, and stabilizes the guest molecules towards oxidation and other unwanted reactions. Also CDs catalyze some reactions playing role of microreactors or serve as building blocks for nanotubes. For latest papers or books dealing with cyclodextrin chemistry see [4-7]. In this review are considered combinations of CDs and their derivatives, in which compounds bearing azo unit are chemically bonded or mechanically associated with the host. In this case, the binding properties are modified by light when the guest molecule undergoes trans ⇄ cis isomerization [6a]. © 2005 Springer. Printed in the Netherlands.