Synthesis of Heptakis (2‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin

The title compound was prepared by a reaction sequence comprising methylation of heptakis (6‐bromo‐6‐deoxy)‐β‐cyclodextrin by the Kuhn procedure, regeneration of the primary hydroxyl groups from the resulting heptakis(2‐O‐methyl‐6‐bromo‐6‐deoxy)‐β‐dextrin via the 6‐O‐benzoate ester by benzoate exchange and subsequent deesterification. It was proved that the methyl groups in the tetradeca‐O‐methyl ether of β‐dextrin are located 0–2 and 0–6 of the D‐glucose residues.