epsilon-Cyclodextrin , Cyclomaltodecaose , CD10

Epsilon-cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin molecule with an epoxy group on one of the glucose rings. It is used as a building block for larger molecules, or as a reagent in organic synthesis. Epsilon-cyclodextrin is also known to have dehydrating properties, and can be used to dry solvents. This compound can also form crystals that are stable at room temperature, which makes it useful for microscopy experiments. Epsilon-cyclodextrin has been shown to undergo phase transitions between its crystalline and amorphous states when dehydrated and hydrated, respectively. The dehydration process starts with the loss of water molecules from the hydration shell around the molecule, followed by the removal of hydrogen atoms from the remaining hydroxyl groups on each glucose ring. Finally, the epoxy group is cleaved off due to strain in the sugar ring structure.