Synthetic Cyclic Oligosaccharides–Syntheses and Structural Properties of a Cyclo[(1 → 4)‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐α‐D‐mannopyranosyl]trioside and ‐tetraoside

An efficient polycondensation–cyclization approach to the synthesis of cyclodextrin analogues is demonstrated by the preparation of cyclohexaoside 1 and cyclooctaoside 2. The key intermediate, disaccharide 3, bearing the cyanoethylidene group as a glycosyl donor function and the trityloxy group as a glycosyl acceptor function was prepared in 15 steps starting from L‐rhamnose and D‐mannose. The crucial cyclooligomerization of the disaccharide monomer 3 was carried out in the presence of TrClO4 as a promoter with the use of ultra‐dry conditions at normal concentrations. This reaction led to formation of the cyclic oligosaccharides 28 and 29 (in 34 and 31% yield, respectively), which were deprotected to afford 1 and 2, respectively. The X‐ray crystal structural analysis of the cyclooctaoside 2 reveals a cylindrical shape for the cyclic oligosaccharide with C4 symmetry. Individual molecules of 2 are arranged perfectly in stacks that form nanotubes in the solid state.