Mechanism of 2-O→3-O silyl migration in cyclomaltohexaose (α-cyclodextrin)

To gain insight into the mechanism of the well-known 2-O→3-O silyl migration of 2-O-silylated cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) under basic conditions, we have undertaken studies of the reaction of 2A-O-TBDMSi-6A-deoxy-6A-S-phenyl-α-cyclodextrin with MeI and NaH. Under these conditions, the TBDMSi group on the C-2 oxygen was found to migrate onto the C-3 oxygen in the glucose residue in which the C-2 oxygen is located, and not onto the C-3 oxygen in the adjacent glucose residue.