The gas-phase chemistry of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.

Complexes of cyclodextrins with amino acid analytes are produced in the gas phase and are ideal for the study of molecular recognition. In this Account, we discuss the evidence for the presence of gas-phase inclusion complexes and the nature of the interaction. The use of cyclodextrins as chiral selectors in gas-phase guest-exchange reactions is illustrated, and the nature of the enantioselectivity is discussed. The development of the enantioselective reaction into an analytical method for determining enantiomeric excess is also described.