Interactions with β-cyclodextrin as a way for encapsulation and separation of camphene and fenchene

The separation of isomeric monoterpenes, camphene and fenchene by complexation with β-cyclodextrin is presented. Both of the monoterpenes form complexes with β-cyclodextrin (as shown by both gas chromatography and 1H NMR) with similar stability constants nevertheless it is possible to separate them by re-crystallization. The crystal structure of β-cyclodextrin with fenchene was also studied by X-ray diffraction.