A vector-selective reaction enables efficient construction of specific topology upon the primary side of beta-cyclodextrin.

N-dansylcysteines attached on the primary side of beta-cyclodextrin reacted with the saccharide hydroxyl groups in a vector-selective manner, affording the corresponding lactones. The desired topology of the lactones can be efficiently constructed simply by the selection of the proper enantiomer of D/L-cysteines. In comparison with the exo-lactone, the endo-lactone displayed 4 times stronger fluorescence intensity, stronger binding affinity to sodium adamantanecarboxylate, and 15 times larger signal changes in fluorescence intensity upon binding.