Fast separations of chiral β-blockers on a cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-coated zirconia monolithic column by capillary electrochromatography

Cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC) is an excellent chiral selector for enantioseparation of a wide variety of chiral compounds. The monolithic chiral columns are becoming popular in liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography. In this work, we present the fast separation of chiral β-blockers on a CDMPC-modified zirconia monolithic column by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The porous zirconia monolithic capillary column was prepared by using the sol-gel technology and then zirconia surface modified with CDMPC. The enantioseparations were performed in reversed-phase (RP) eluents of a phosphate solution (pH 4.4) modified with acetonitrile or alcohol. The enantioseparations of a set of eight chiral β-blockers were achieved in less than one minute. Influences of the applied voltage, column temperature, concentration of acetonitrile and the type of alcohol as the organic modifier in the mobile phase, and sample injection time on enantioseparation were investigated. CEC separations at the applied voltage of 10 kV and 15 °C in the ACN-modified mobile phase provided the best resolutions for the analytes studied. Run-to-run and day-to-day repeatabilities of the column in the RP-CEC separation were less than 1 and 2%, respectively.     

A mesoporous silica nanoparticles immobilized open-tubular capillary column with a coating of cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) for enantioseparation in CEC

An approach of immobilizing mobile crystalline material (MCM)-41 mesoporous silica nanoparticles on the inner wall of an open-tubular (OT) capillary as the support for coating chiral selector of cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) (CDMPC) was carried out. By taking advantage of the improved phase ratio of OT capillary with the immobilization of MCM-41 mesoporous material, the cellulose derivative of CDMPC as the chiral selector was simply coated on the MCM-41 nanoparticle layer via the hydrogen-bonding interaction, and the enantioseparation was successively carried out. Eight pairs of acidic, neutral and basic enantiomers were resolved in capillary electrochromatography or capillary liquid chromatography mode. The concentration of CDMPC for coating was systematically investigated to obtain the optimized chromatographic properties on enantioseparation by controlling the supposed film thickness of CDMPC on MCM-41 nanoparticle layer. Comparing with a bare fused silica capillary column coated with CDMPC under the same coating procedure as MCM-41-modified capillary did, the MCM-41-modified capillary column offered much higher enantioselectivity. This result indicated the significance of using the mesoporous nanoparticles as the electrochromatographic support to enhance the phase ratio of OT capillary column in capillary electrochromatography and capillary liquid chromatography. For investigating the effect of experimental conditions on the enantioseparation with this prepared OT capillary column, the content of organic modifier acetonitrile in the mobile phase was thus extensively evaluated to achieve a better chiral separation.     

Amylose-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate immobilized on monolithic silica stationary phases for chiral separations in capillary electrochromatography

Chiral monolithic silica capillary columns were prepared by immobilization of amylose-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate (ADMPC) bearing a small fraction of 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl residues through intermolecular polycondensation of the triethoxysilyl groups. The obtained columns were used for chiral separations in capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effects of the silica monolith nature and the used chiral selector concentration on the resulting enantiomeric separations were investigated. Fifteen chiral compounds, including acidic, neutral, and basic substances were evaluated and twelve showed partial or baseline separation at some of the different conditions tested. These results demonstrated the promising applicability of ADMPC-immobilized monolithic silica columns in CEC enantioseparations, but also revealed the need for further improvements on the level of baseline separations and efficiencies.     

Chiral Monolithic Silica-Based HPLC Columns for Enantiomeric Separation and Determination: Functionalization of Chiral Selector and Recognition of Selector-Selectand Interaction

This review draws attention to the use of chiral monolithic silica HPLC columns for the enantiomeric separation and determination of chiral compounds. Properties and advantages of monolithic silica HPLC columns are also highlighted in comparison to conventional particle-packed, fused-core, and sub-2-µm HPLC columns. Nano-LC capillary monolithic silica columns as well as polymeric-based and hybrid-based monolithic columns are also demonstrated to show good enantioresolution abilities. Methods for introducing the chiral selector into the monolithic silica column in the form of mobile phase additive, by encapsulation and surface coating, or by covalent functionalization are described. The application of molecular modeling methods to elucidate the selector–selectand interaction is discussed. An application for enantiomeric impurity determination is also considered.     

Enantioseparation on cellulose dimethylphenylcarbamate-modified zirconia monolithic columns by reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

This work reports the preparation of monolithic zirconia chiral columns for separation of enantiomeric compounds by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Using sol–gel technology, a porous monolith having interconnected globular-like structure with through-pores is synthesized in the capillary column as a first step in the synthesis of monolithic zirconia chiral capillary columns. In the second step, the surface of the monolith is modified by coating with cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC) as the chiral stationary phase to obtain a chiral column (CDMPCZM). The process of the preparation of the zirconia monolithic capillary column was investigated by varying the concentrations of the components of the sol solution including polyethylene glycol, water and acetic acid. CDMPCZM is mechanically stable and no bubble formation was detected with the applied current of up to 30 μA. The enantioseparation behavior of the CDMPCZM columns was investigated by separating a set of 10 representative chiral compounds by varying the applied voltage and pH and organic composition of the aqueous organic mobile phases.     

Monolithic silica columns with chemically bonded tert-butylcarbamoylquinine chiral anion-exchanger selector as a stationary phase for enantiomer separations

An enantioselective silica rod type chiral stationary phase (CSP) is presented as a novel combination of the well-known enantiomer separation properties of immobilized tert-butyl-carbamoylquinine chiral anion-exchanger selector with the unique properties of monolithic silica material. The chromatographic behavior of the tert-butyl-carbamoylquinine silica rod was studied and compared with a similar prepared particulate material. Good selectivities were achieved for a spectrum of chiral test components like N-derivatized amino acids (DNB- Ac-, DNZ-, Bz-, Z-amino acids) and for Suprofen. The influence of mobile phase parameters, as well as the effect of serially coupling up to six 10 cm monolithic silica columns was studied and put in context to conventional columns of particulate 5 microm type CSP. Using that 60 cm long monolithic column it was possible to improve the enantiomer separation of Suprofen and achieve a baseline separation in less than 10 min of total separation time.     

Enantioselectivity of monolithic silica stationary phases immobilized with different concentrations cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate), analyzed with different mobile phases in capillary electrochromatography

The 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate derivatives of cellulose bearing 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl residues were immobilized in a capillary format onto a monolithic silica support by intermolecular polycondensation of the triethoxysilyl groups. The resulting columns were used for chiral separations using capillary electrochromatography. The effects of the synthesizing solvent, the selector coating procedure, the chiral selector concentration onto the silica monolith and the mobile phase pH value, on the separation of enantiomers were studied. The column-to-column reproducibility and stability also were evaluated. A test set of 14 chiral substances, including acidic, neutral, bifunctional and basic compounds, was used to investigate the effects of the factors mentioned above. Twelve pairs of enantiomers showed enantioselectivity at some of the different conditions tested. The column-to-column repeatability was satisfactory, and the prepared columns were stable under the adopted analysis conditions.     

Enantioseparations in nonaqueous capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography using cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) as chiral stationary phase

The potential of the widely used chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) enantioseparations, cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC, sold under the trade name Chiralcel OD) was evaluated under the conditions of nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of the particle size of the silica gel, the loading of CDMPC on the silica gel and nature of the organic solvent, as well as electrolyte salts on the separation characteristics were investigated. This study illustrates the applicability of CDMPC for obtaining highly efficient enantioseparations under the conditions of nonaqueous CEC. Comparative study of enantioseparations in capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) and CEC indicated the significant advantages of CEC such as higher plate number at the similar linear flow rates of the mobile phase as well as better tolerance of higher linear flow rates.     

Chiral separation of basic compounds on a cellulose 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate-coated zirconia monolithin basic eluents by capillary electrochromatography

Porous zirconia monolith (ZM) modified with cellulose 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate (CDMPC) was used as chiral stationary phase to separate basic chiral compounds in capillary electrochromatography. The electroosmotic flow behavior of bare and CDMPC-modified zirconia monolithic (CDMPC-ZM) column was studied in ACN/phosphate buffer eluents of pH ranging from 2 to 12. The CDMPC-ZM column was evaluated by investigating the influences of pH, the type and composition of organic modifier of the eluent on enantioseparation. CEC separations at pH 9 provided the best resolutions for the analytes studied, which are better than those observed on CDMPC-modified silica monolithic columns under similar chromatographic conditions. No appreciable decline in retention and resolution factors after over 200 injections, and run-to-run and day-to-day repeatabilities of the column of less than 3% indicate the stability of the zirconia monolithic column in basic media.     

Polyacrylamide-based monolithic capillary column with coating of cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) for enantiomer separation in capillary electrochromatography

A hydrophilic chiral capillary monolithic column for enantiomer separation in CEC was prepared by coating cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) (CDMPC) on porous hydrophilic poly(acrylamide-co-N,N'-methylene-bisacrylamide) (poly(AA-co-MBA)) monolithic matrix with confine of a fused-silica capillary. The coating conditions were optimized to obtain a stable and reproducible chiral stationary phase for CEC. The effect of organic modifier of ACN in aqueous mobile phase for the enantiomer separation by CEC was investigated, and the significant influence of ACN on the enantioresolution and electrochromatographic retention was observed. Twelve pairs of enantiomers including acidic, neutral, and basic analytes were tested and nine pairs of them were baseline-enantioresolved with acidic and basic aqueous mobile phases. A good within-column repeatability in retention time (RSD = 2.4%) and resolution (RSD = 3.2%) was obtained by consecutive injections of a neutral compound, benzoin, on a prepared chiral monolithic column, while the between-column repeatability in retention time (RSD = 6.4%) and resolution (RSD = 9.6%) was observed by column-to-column examination. The prepared monolithic stationary phase showed good stability in either acidic or basic mobile phase.     

Chiral covalent organic framework incorporated organic polymer monolithic capillary column for enantioseparations

A chiral covalent organic framework was synthesized, characterized, and incorporated into organic polymer monolithic capillary columns to provide chiral stationary phases for enantioseparations. The prepared monolithic capillary columns were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis. To obtain better enantioseparations, the columns’ preparation conditions, and enantioseparation conditions were optimized. Baseline resolutions of several chiral compounds were obtained with good reproducibility and stability. Furthermore, the mechanism of chiral recognition was investigated using molecular docking with AutoDock. Docking results showed that the enantioselectivity factor rather than resolution is correlated with the binding free energy difference between enantiomers with the chiral covalent organic framework. And abundant acetoxy and nitrile groups as well as benzene rings in the chiral covalent organic framework are responsible for the enantioseparation ability of the chiral monolithic capillary columns.     

Enantioseparations on amylose tris(5-chloro-2-methylphenylcarbamate) in nano-liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography

Amylose tris(5-chloro-2-methylphenylcarbamate) was coated onto native and aminopropylsilanized silica in order to prepare chiral stationary phases (CSP) for enantioseparations using nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of the nature of silica, the particle size and pore diameter, the chiral selector loading onto silica, the mobile phase composition and pH, as well as separation variables such as a linear flow rate of the mobile phase, applied voltage in CEC, etc. on the separation of enantiomers was studied. It was found that CSPs based on amylose tris(5-chloro-2-methylphenylcarbamate) can be used for preparation of stable capillary columns for enantioseparations by nano-LC and CEC in combination with polar organic and aqueous–organic mobile phases. Higher peak efficiency was observed in CEC than in nano-LC.     

Chemically L-prolinamide-modified monolithic silica column for enantiomeric separation of dansyl amino acids and hydroxy acids by capillary electrochromatography and mu-high performance liquid chromatography

A silica-based chiral monolithic column prepared by sol-gel process and chemical modification of chiral selector was used for enantioseparation of dansyl amino acids and hydroxy acids by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and mu-high-performance liquid chromatography (mu-HPLC). L-Prolinamide was modified as a chiral selector. The chiral stationary phase (CSP), the chiral complex of Cu(II) with L-prolinamide, provides an anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) in CEC. The EOF was found to be dependent on applied electric field strength, the pH, and the composition of mobile phases. Scanning electron micrograph showed that monolithic columns have the morphology of continuous skeleton and large through-pore. D-Enantiomers migrated before L-enantiomers except for dansyl-(Dns)-DL-Ser. The separation efficiencies of up to 17600 (D) and 13,200 plates m(-1) (L) were achieved for the separation of DL-indole-3-lactic acid.     

Nano‐amylose‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐silica hybrid sol immobilized on open tubular capillary column for capillary electrochromatography enantioseparation

The chiral organic‐inorganic hybrid materials can exhibit a high loading, and the chiral selector nanoparticles can create efficient stationary phases for open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT‐CEC). Hence, a novel protocol for the preparation of an OT column coated with nano‐amylose‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) (nano‐ABDMPC)‐silica hybrid sol through in situ layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly method was developed for CEC enantioseparation. By controlling the assembly cycle number of nano‐ABDMPC‐silica hybrid sol, a homogeneous, dense and stable coating was successfully prepared, which was confirmed by SEM and elemental analysis. As the main parameter influencing the chiral separating effect, the nano‐ABDMPC bearing 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl residues concentration was investigated. The experimental results showed that 10.0 mg/mL nano‐ABDMPC bearing 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl residues coated OT capillary column possessed chiral recognition ability toward the six enantiomers (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, phenethyl alcohol, 1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol, and Tröger's base) at some of the different conditions tested. Additionally, the coated OT column revealed adequate repeatability concerning run‐to‐run, day‐to‐day and column‐to‐column. These results demonstrated the promising applicability of nano‐ABDMPC‐silica hybrid sol coated OT column in CEC enantioseparations.     

Monolithic silica columns functionalized with substituted polyproline‐derived chiral selectors as chiral stationary phases for high‐performance liquid chromatography

In this study, two polyproline‐derived chiral selectors are bonded to monolithic silica gel columns. In spite of high chiral selector coverage, the derivatization was found to have only a slight effect on the hydrodynamics of the mobile phase through the column. The enantioseparation ability of the resulting chiral monolithic columns was evaluated with a series of structurally diverse racemic test compounds. When compared to analogous bead‐based chiral stationary phases, higher enantioseparation and broader application domain were observed for monolithic columns. Moreover, the increase in flow rate produces a minor reduction of resolution, which permits to shorten analysis time. Additionally, increased loadability defines chiral polyproline derived monoliths as adequate for preparative chromatography.     

Monolithic silica-based capillary column with strong chiral cation-exchange type surface modification for enantioselective non-aqueous capillary electrochromatography

A silica-based monolithic stationary phase prepared by the sol-gel process in a 100 microm I.D. fused-silica (FS) capillary has been modified chemically with 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane followed by immobilization of a strong cation-exchange (SCX) type chiral selector, (S)-N-(4-allyloxy-3,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutane phosphonic acid, by radical addition reaction onto the reactive sulfhydryl surface. After a fine-tuning of the mobile phase composition, the enantioselective capillary column was evaluated for the separation of various chiral basic drugs by enantioselective non-aqueous capillary electrochromatography (CEC), in comparison to capillary column analogs packed with 3.5 microm silica particles having attached the same selector. The performance of the monolithic silica column was further compared to corresponding polymethacrylate-based organic polymer monoliths. The study indicated that strong counter-ions such as 2-aminobutanol or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine are needed, although they reduce the electroosmotic flow velocity and separation factors in comparison to less efficient counter-ions, in order to allow the elution of the oppositely charged solutes in the ion-exchange retention mode within reasonable run time and as sharp zones. In contrast, weak counter-ions such as N,N-diisopropylethylamine (Huenig base) provided stronger electroosmotic flow and much better separation factors, but relatively poor peak efficiencies. Overall, with the chemically functionalized monolithic silica column the high quality separations of packed column analogs could be approximated, with regards to both separation factors and peak performances. On the other hand, the monolithic capillary column certainly outperformed the packed column in terms of system robustness under capillary electrochromatography conditions and showed excellent column longevity. The enantioselective strong cation-exchange-type monolithic silica column performed also well in comparison to the organic polymer monolith.     

Chemically modified chiral monolithic silica column prepared by a sol-gel process for enantiomeric separation by micro high-performance liquid chromatography

In this work a new type of chiral monolith silica column was developed for the chiral separation by micro high-performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC). The chiral monolith column with a continuous skeleton and a large through-pore structure was prepared inside a capillary of 100 microm I.D. by a sol-gel process, and chemically modified with chiral selectors, such as L-phenylalaninamide, L-alaninamide and L-prolinamide, on the surface of the monolithic silica column. Based on the principle of ligand exchange, these chiral monolithic columns were successfully used for the separation of dansyl amino acid enantiomers, as well as hydroxy acid enantiomers by micro-HPLC. The chromatographic conditions, the enantioselectivity and the performance of columns are discussed.     

Single-walled carbon nanotubes for improved enantioseparations on a chiral ionic liquid stationary phase in GC

In order to investigate whether the use of single-walled carbon nanotubes can improve enantioseparations on an ionic liquid stationary phase, a chiral ionic liquid, (R)-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-aminobutanol-bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imidate, was synthesized. Two capillary columns, one containing the chiral ionic liquid and the other containing the single-walled carbon nanotubes and the chiral ionic liquid, were then prepared for GC. The results of the separations achieved with these columns show that coating the chiral ionic liquid stationary phase onto the capillary column containing single-walled carbon nanotubes improves the enantioselectivety of the chiral ionic liquid. This work indicates that using single-walled carbon nanotubes in this manner enables the application range of such GC chiral separations to be extended.     

The application of functional silica nanoparticles to fulfill the rapid and improved enantioselective capillary electrophoresis separation of amino acid derivatives

In this study, diamino moiety functionalized silica nanoparticles with the size of 118 ± 12 nm were successfully synthesized and directly introduced into a chiral capillary electrophoresis system to improve the enantioseparation of 9‐fluorenyl methoxycarbonyl derivatized amino acids using norvancomycin as chiral selector. Under acidic background electrolyte conditions, functional silica nanoparticles can be readily adsorbed onto the inner surface of bare silica capillary column through electrostatic interaction to form a dynamic coating, resulting in a reversed anodic electro‐osmotic flow (i.e. from cathode to anode). As expected, chiral amino acid derivatives (usually negatively charged) can be rapidly separated under co‐electro‐osmotic flow conditions in the current separation system. Furthermore, the column performance and detection sensitivity for the enantioseparation were also obviously improved because the adsorption of chiral selector of norvancomycin to the capillary wall was greatly suppressed. Some important factors influencing the separation, such as the coating thickness, background electrolyte concentration, functional silica nanoparticles concentration, and the organic modifier were also investigated and the optimized separation conditions were obtained.     

Evaluation of a monolithic epoxy silica support for penicillin G acylase immobilization

In this work, a new type of penicillin G acylase (PGA)-based monolithic silica support was developed and evaluated for the chiral separation in HPLC. The preparation procedure consisted of two steps: preparation of an epoxy derivatized monolithic silica column and chemical modification of the epoxide groups with the enzyme chiral selector. The epoxy Silica-Rod column for the immobilization of PGA was prepared with the in situ modification process by using epoxy-silanes and the identification of the species bound to the surface was achieved by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The enzyme was covalently immobilized to the surface of the derivatized monolithic column. The enantioselectivity and the performance of the developed column are discussed and compared to the corresponding experimental data obtained with a PGA-based microparticulate (5 microm) silica column.