A new purity criterion for α- and β-cyclodextrin using partition chromatography on cellulose columns

In order to check the purity of a- and b-cyclodextrins with respect to each other partition chromatog. on cellulose columns was used (elution with 42:29:29 BuOH-EtOH-H2O, 0.3 atm. air pressure on the solvent reservoir; 75-90 ml./hr. flow rate). Amts. down to 2.5% a-cyclodextrin (I) in b-cyclodextrin (II) and vice versa could be detected in the eluate fractions with an automatic polarimeter. Amts. down to 0.5% II in I and to 0.3% I in II were traced by concg. the eluant, applying the soln. to paper, and spraying the paper with alc. iodine soln. [on SciFinder (R)]