A novel synthesis method for cyclodextrins from maltose in water-organic solvent systems

Abstract
A novel enzymatic synthesis method of cyclodextrin (CD) from low-mol-wt maltose using cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) fromBacillus macerans has been developed in various water-organic solvent systems. A Β-CD was synthesized in a two-phase system consisting of water and cyclohexane. However, no CDs could be synthesized in an aqueous buffer solution. A maximal yield of Β- CD has been obtained at a cyclohexane content volume of 44%. This synthesis has been obtained only at low temperatures, i.e., 7‡C, and did not take place at 50‡C. In addition, various organic solvents have been used for the enzymatic synthesis of CD from maltose. Consequently, Β-CD could be synthesized in various water-organic solvent systems, e.g., cyclohexane, benzene, xylene, and chloroform, but no enzymatic reaction occurred using aliphaticn-hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, dodecane, and hexadecane. Furthermore, α- and Β- CD could be synthesized in water mixture solutions using organic solvents having an alcoholic group (e.g., ethanol, propanol, butanol, and pentanol) in a wide range of the reaction temperatures, typically 7–50‡C. In this temperature range, α- and Β-CD were also formed and the maximal yield from maltose to Β-CD of approx 13% was reached in 60 h.