171
results showed that partial methylation increased solubility, due to the disruption of
the hydrogen bond system. The solubility of a derivative containing seven methyl
groups increased, e.g., from 1.8 g/100 mL to 6.7 g/100 mL at 25 °C. Later, Professor
Casu 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 (Casu et al. 1968c, 1974a, b,
1979). All these results were presented at an invited plenary lecture at the 7th
International Symposium on Carbohydrate Chemistry (Bratislava, August 5–9,
1974). During this conference, Professor Casu met Professor Szejtli for the first
time. They then spent a “pleasant evening” discussing these methylated compounds.
A year later, Professor Szejtli invited Professor Casu and Professor Reggiani
(Director of the G. Ronzoni Institute) to Budapest for a seminar to present their
results on methylated cyclodextrins. The following years saw the emergence of a
fruitful and friendly collaboration between their two groups (Crini 2014). The
experimental protocols for methylated cycloamyloses, detailed by Professor Casu,
were repeated in the 1980s by Professor Szejtli (Szejtli et al. 1980; Szejtli 1982).
Since then, these derivatives have had a tremendous development.
In 1979, methylated cyclodextrins were used as versatile complexing agents for
the complexation of some n-alkanes and dyes (Casu et al. 1979). Professor Casu’s
latest work on cyclodextrins was carried out in the late 1980s, publishing four
important articles on the interactions of cyclodextrins with glycolipids (Casu et al.
1988, 1990, 1992; Ahmed et al. 1994).
3.3.3 Professor Casu: A Pioneer in the Dissemination
of the Knowledge of Cyclodextrins
Professor Casu was among the first to publish general notes and reviews on cyclodextrins for a broader public (Crini 2014; Crini et al. 2018). He is distinguished
for his important contribution to the dissemination of knowledge about these substances (Casu 1966, 1968a, b, 1981, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987; Casu and
Rava 1966; Casu et al. 1974a, b, 1979, 1988).
3.3.4 Professor Casu: A Pioneer
of Glycosaminoglycan Research
In 1969, Professor Casu visited the McGill University Department of Chemistry at
Montréal, for 1 year as a guest of Professor Perlin. This laboratory was prominent
in pure and applied carbohydrate chemistry (Crini and Torri 2017). Professor Casu
pursued his studies on the structure of carbohydrates using NMR techniques (Perlin
and Casu 1969; Perlin et al. 1970a). His sound collaboration with Professor Perlin
3 Professor Casu and Cyclodextrins
results showed that partial methylation increased solubility, due to the disruption of
the hydrogen bond system. The solubility of a derivative containing seven methyl
groups increased, e.g., from 1.8 g/100 mL to 6.7 g/100 mL at 25 °C. Later, Professor
Casu 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 (Casu et al. 1968c, 1974a, b,
1979). All these results were presented at an invited plenary lecture at the 7th
International Symposium on Carbohydrate Chemistry (Bratislava, August 5–9,
1974). During this conference, Professor Casu met Professor Szejtli for the first
time. They then spent a “pleasant evening” discussing these methylated compounds.
A year later, Professor Szejtli invited Professor Casu and Professor Reggiani
(Director of the G. Ronzoni Institute) to Budapest for a seminar to present their
results on methylated cyclodextrins. The following years saw the emergence of a
fruitful and friendly collaboration between their two groups (Crini 2014). The
experimental protocols for methylated cycloamyloses, detailed by Professor Casu,
were repeated in the 1980s by Professor Szejtli (Szejtli et al. 1980; Szejtli 1982).
Since then, these derivatives have had a tremendous development.
In 1979, methylated cyclodextrins were used as versatile complexing agents for
the complexation of some n-alkanes and dyes (Casu et al. 1979). Professor Casu’s
latest work on cyclodextrins was carried out in the late 1980s, publishing four
important articles on the interactions of cyclodextrins with glycolipids (Casu et al.
1988, 1990, 1992; Ahmed et al. 1994).
3.3.3 Professor Casu: A Pioneer in the Dissemination
of the Knowledge of Cyclodextrins
Professor Casu was among the first to publish general notes and reviews on cyclodextrins for a broader public (Crini 2014; Crini et al. 2018). He is distinguished
for his important contribution to the dissemination of knowledge about these substances (Casu 1966, 1968a, b, 1981, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987; Casu and
Rava 1966; Casu et al. 1974a, b, 1979, 1988).
3.3.4 Professor Casu: A Pioneer
of Glycosaminoglycan Research
In 1969, Professor Casu visited the McGill University Department of Chemistry at
Montréal, for 1 year as a guest of Professor Perlin. This laboratory was prominent
in pure and applied carbohydrate chemistry (Crini and Torri 2017). Professor Casu
pursued his studies on the structure of carbohydrates using NMR techniques (Perlin
and Casu 1969; Perlin et al. 1970a). His sound collaboration with Professor Perlin
3 Professor Casu and Cyclodextrins