Molecular mechanics study of beta-cyclodextrin 6-O-monobenzoate inclusion complexes

Calculations have been done on beta-cyclodextrin 6-O-monobenzoate and its c omplexes using molecular mechanics MM2 force field. The guest molecules inv olved were n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, c yclooctane and methylcyclooctane. Owing to lack of dipole-dipole and hydrog en-bonding interactions in the inclusion complexation of the modified cyclo dextrin, the calculations of the geometry of the complexes and the inclusio n process indicated that the complex formation is stabilized by van der Waa ls interaction. The energy differences of the modified cyclodextrins by cal culation show that the size, shape, conformation of the guest molecules pla y significant roles in the inclusion complexation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.