158
nuclear magnetic resonance were powerful methods to study the structure and conformations of cyclodextrins. He suggested a common shape of the glucopyranose
rings in the chair C-1 and the presence of hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl
groups. These conclusions greatly advanced the understanding of the structure and
chemistry of cyclodextrins and their properties. In 1967, Professor Casu published
the first perspective view of 2,6-di-O-methylated cyclodextrin and, 1 year later, prepared cyclodextrin derivatives such as methylated and acetylated products. At the
end of the 1960s, Professor Casu was among the first to verify the idea that if the
guest molecule is accommodated in the cyclodextrin cavity, then the hydrogen
atoms located in the interior of the cavity would be significantly shielded by the
guest, whereas the hydrogen atoms on the outer surface would not be affected by the
formation of the inclusion complex. In 1969, his interest extended to biological
active substances such as heparin with a visit to Department of Chemistry of McGill
University of Montreal, Canada, guest of Professor Arthur S. Perlin. Nevertheless,
Professor Casu has continued to work on cyclodextrin, publishing important contributions on the use of methylated cyclodextrins as versatile complexing agents for
the complexation of some n-alkanes and dyes, and on the interactions of cyclodextrins with glycolipids. He also studied inclusion properties of methylated cycloamyloses, demonstrating that the inclusion complexes of methylated derivatives were
more stable than the corresponding complexes with the parent cyclodextrins.
Professor Casu was among the first to publish general notes and reviews on cyclodextrins for a broader public. He was a prolific publisher on topics related to cyclodextrin and heparin, an enthusiastic teacher of many doctoral students and
postdoctoral fellows, a genial host to visitors, and a truly caring person.
In this chapter, we would like to pay a posthumous tribute to Professor Casu, one
of the pioneers in the dissemination of the knowledge of cyclodextrins in the
1960–1970s and later of heparin.
Keywords Tribute · Professor Casu · Polysaccharides · Structure · Cyclodextrin
derivatives · Nuclear magnetic resonance · Infra-red spectroscopy · Awards and
distinctions
3.1 Introduction
On November 11, 2016, the glycoscience community lost one of its leading figures,
Professor Benito Casu (Fig. 3.1), G. Ronzoni Institute for Chemical and Biochemical
Research, at the age of 89. In him, we have lost an eminent and passionate scientist,
a visionary, and a colleague of great merit, particularly in the area of chemistry and
biochemistry of natural substances (Crini 2014; Crini and Torri 2017; Torri and
Cassinelli 2018). Gentleman Professor Casu has been a friendly and generous
G. Torri et al.
nuclear magnetic resonance were powerful methods to study the structure and conformations of cyclodextrins. He suggested a common shape of the glucopyranose
rings in the chair C-1 and the presence of hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl
groups. These conclusions greatly advanced the understanding of the structure and
chemistry of cyclodextrins and their properties. In 1967, Professor Casu published
the first perspective view of 2,6-di-O-methylated cyclodextrin and, 1 year later, prepared cyclodextrin derivatives such as methylated and acetylated products. At the
end of the 1960s, Professor Casu was among the first to verify the idea that if the
guest molecule is accommodated in the cyclodextrin cavity, then the hydrogen
atoms located in the interior of the cavity would be significantly shielded by the
guest, whereas the hydrogen atoms on the outer surface would not be affected by the
formation of the inclusion complex. In 1969, his interest extended to biological
active substances such as heparin with a visit to Department of Chemistry of McGill
University of Montreal, Canada, guest of Professor Arthur S. Perlin. Nevertheless,
Professor Casu has continued to work on cyclodextrin, publishing important contributions on the use of methylated cyclodextrins as versatile complexing agents for
the complexation of some n-alkanes and dyes, and on the interactions of cyclodextrins with glycolipids. He also studied inclusion properties of methylated cycloamyloses, demonstrating that the inclusion complexes of methylated derivatives were
more stable than the corresponding complexes with the parent cyclodextrins.
Professor Casu was among the first to publish general notes and reviews on cyclodextrins for a broader public. He was a prolific publisher on topics related to cyclodextrin and heparin, an enthusiastic teacher of many doctoral students and
postdoctoral fellows, a genial host to visitors, and a truly caring person.
In this chapter, we would like to pay a posthumous tribute to Professor Casu, one
of the pioneers in the dissemination of the knowledge of cyclodextrins in the
1960–1970s and later of heparin.
Keywords Tribute · Professor Casu · Polysaccharides · Structure · Cyclodextrin
derivatives · Nuclear magnetic resonance · Infra-red spectroscopy · Awards and
distinctions
3.1 Introduction
On November 11, 2016, the glycoscience community lost one of its leading figures,
Professor Benito Casu (Fig. 3.1), G. Ronzoni Institute for Chemical and Biochemical
Research, at the age of 89. In him, we have lost an eminent and passionate scientist,
a visionary, and a colleague of great merit, particularly in the area of chemistry and
biochemistry of natural substances (Crini 2014; Crini and Torri 2017; Torri and
Cassinelli 2018). Gentleman Professor Casu has been a friendly and generous
G. Torri et al.