Synthesis of a novel poly(oxyethylene)-bridged β-cyclodextrin dimer

A novel supramolecular building block based on cyclodextrin and poly(oxyethylene) is reported, in which the poly(oxyethylene) moiety was selected to be the linker for cyclodextrin in order to enhance the biocompatibility. We report for the first time the synthesis of a bridged beta-cyclodextrin dimer based on a condensation reaction by using a simple and efficient procedure, which can be employed for applications in supramolecular chemistry as a nanoscaled building block. It is noteworthy that the dimerization of beta-cyclodextrin can increase the binding affinity compared to the beta-cyclodextrin derivatives. The chemical structure is biocompatible and the dimer can therefore be considered for drug delivery applications.