Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase enzyme from Bacillus circulans catalyzed the effective conversion of 4-thio-alpha-maltosyl fluoride into cyclo-alpha-(1-->4)-thiomalto -tetraoside, -pentaoside, -hexaoside and linear hemithiomaltooligosaccharides. However, under the same conditions, C-maltosyl fluoride afforded only linear modified maltotetraose, maltohexaose and maltooctaose in moderate yield. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.