A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS OF METHYLATED CYCLODEXTRINS BY LIQUID AND SUBCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Two simple chromatography methods are proposed in order to partially c haracterize methylated cyclomaltoheptaoses (beta-cyclodex trins). Acid hydrolysis produces D-glucose, mono-, di- and tri-O-methyl-D-glucose units which can be directly analysed, without further preparation, usi ng an aminobonded silica or silica column with a liquid (dichlorometha ne/methanol; methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol) and/or subcritical flui d (carbon dioxide/methanol/water/triethylamine) mobile phase. Quantita tion of these analytes using a silica stationary phase, in seven comme rcial samples, was carried out by both techniques and compared favoura bly with the results obtained by gas chromatography which requires a t ime consuming preparation including chemical derivatization.