Bisthiocyclomalto-oligosaccharides with trehalosyl and octyl links: their synthesis for dual-cavity inclusion

6,6′-Dithio-α,α-trehalose has been prepared, and its thiolate dianion reacted with 6I-O-p-tolylsulfonylcyclomaltoheptaose to form the trehalosyl-linked thiocyclodextrin dimer 5. Another cyclodextrin dimer (6) having the more flexible octyl link was similarly synthesised. Formation of a 1:1 complex with Methyl Orange at pH 4 by dual-cavity inclusion was confirmed for 5 and 6.