Configurational analysis of chiral acids as O-trifluoroacetylated (-)-menthyl esters by achiral dual-capillary column gas chromatography

The simultaneous enantiomeric separation of 30 racemic acids including 24 hydroxy acids in a single analysis is described for the determination of their absolute configurations. It involves the conversion of each enantiomer into diastereomeric O-trifluoroacetylated (-)-menthyl ester for the direct separation by gas chromatography on achiral dual-capillary columns of different polarities, with subsequent identification and chiral discrimination by retention index (I) library matching. Among the acids studied, the enantiomers of 27 acids were discriminatively resolved on both non-polar DB-5 and the intermediate-polar DB-17 columns with resolution factors in the range of 0.7-7.7 and separation factors in the range of 1.002-1.021. Enantiomers of 3-hydroxybutyric and alpha-methoxyphenylacetic acids were partially resolved on DB-5 (resolution factor of 0.9), but not resolved on DB-17, while the baseline resolution for 3-hydroxydecanoic acid and the minimal separation on the peak top (resolution factor less than 0.7) for 2-hydroxyglutaric acid were achieved on DB-17 but not on DB-5. The temperature-programmed I values measured on both columns were characteristic of each enantiomer and thus simple I matching with the reference values was useful in cross-checking for their chemical identification and the chiral discrimination as well. When applied to a clinical urine sample, the present method allowed positive identification of endogenous (S)-lactic acid and (S)-2-hydroxybutyric acid along with (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid.     

Enantioseparation of chiral amino acids as the N(O,S)-ethoxycarbonylated diastereomeric esters by achiral dual-capillary column gas chromatography

The enantioseparation of 30 racemic amino acids in a single analysis is described for the determination of their absolute configurations. Two-phase extractive ethoxycarbonyl (EOC) reaction with ethyl chloroformate present in the dichloromethane phase was performed to recover amino acids from alkaline aqueous solutions. The resulting N(O,S)-EOC amino acids extracted into an organic solvent after acidification were reacted with a chiral alcohol such as (S)-(+)-3-methylbutan-2-ol, (S)-(+)-butan-2-ol and (S)-(+)-octan-2-ol for gas chromatographic analysis on achiral dual-capillary DB-5 and DB-17 columns of different polarities. Among the chiral reagents examined, (S)-(+)-3-methylbutan-2-ol provided the best diastereomeric structures in resolving all the racemic amino acids into their enantiomeric pairs with high resolution factors (1.2-8.0). Moreover, the temperature-programmed retention index (I) values measured on the two columns were characteristic of each enantiomer. Hence simple I matching with the reference values was useful in cross-checking for chemical identification and also chiral discrimination. When the present method was applied to a fermented dairy product (Yakult), D-alanine, D-aspartic acid, D-glutamic acid and D-proline were positively detected along with their respective L-forms in addition to glycine.     

Highly selective and sensitive gas chromatography-electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry method for the indirect enantioselective identification of 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids in food and biological samples

A gas chromatographic (GC) method is described for the indirect enantioresolution of 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids (OH-FAs). It combines the derivatization of each alkylated enantiomer and the subsequent transfer with (R)-(-)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride [(R)-(-)-MTPA-Cl, Mosher's reagent] into a diastereomeric (S)-MTPA derivative. The enantiomers of each derivatized OH-FA were well separated on three non-chiral GC-columns (CP-Sil 2, CP-Sil 8/20% C18 and VF-5ms). The derivatives were detected with high sensitivity by GC with electron-capture detection (GC/ECD) and electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS) because of their enhanced electron-capturing properties. When applied to sunflower oil spiked with a small amount of a racemic 2-OH-FA, the present method allowed for a highly selective identification without influence from the sample matrix. For more complex samples such as wool wax, GC/ECNI-MS was superior to GC/ECD, since the high sensitivity of this method was linked with high selectivity. Using GC/ECNI-MS in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, 16 enantiopure 2-OH-FAs were detected in a wool wax sample.     

Chiral separation of N-methyl-dl-aspartic acid in rat brain tissue as N-ethoxycarbonylated (S)-(+)-2-octyl ester derivatives by GC-MS

A selective and sensitive analytical method was developed for enantiomeric separation and determination of N‐methyl‐DL‐aspartic acid (NMA). The method involved the conversion of each enantiomer into N‐ethoxycarbonylated (S)‐(+)‐2‐octyl ester derivative for the direct separation by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The diastereomeric derivatives showed characteristic mass spectral properties for analysis by selected ion monitoring mode (SIM) and enabling enantioseparation on an achiral capillary column. Two enantiomers were baseline separated, and the detection limits for N‐methyl‐L‐aspartic acid (NMLA) and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) were 0.07 and 0.03 ng/g, respectively. When applied to rat brain tissues for absolute configuration of NMA, only NMDA was determined, while NMLA was monitored as lower than the limit of detection. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of single-enantiomer 2-methyl-4-heptanol, a pheromone of Metamasius hemipterus, using (S)-2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid

To investigate the resolution of secondary alcohols using 2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid (MalphaNP acid), 2-methyl-4-heptanol, one of the aggregation pheromones of Metamasius hemipterus, was resolved using (S)-MalphaNP acid. As a chiral-resolving agent, MalphaNP acid is superior to 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-methoxy-2-phenylpropionic acid (MTPA) in terms of HPLC separation and NMR shielding. A better separation of diastereomeric MalphaNP esters was observed when n-hexane-THF was used as the eluent for silica gel HPLC. The solvolysis of the diastereomeric MalphaNP esters gave (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and its enantiomer; enantiopure (S)-MalphaNP acid was also recovered. In addition, the preferred conformation of the MalphaNP ester was confirmed using methyl (R)-3-hydroxyvalerate as an authentic compound.     

Determination of the S(+)- and R(-)-enantiomers of baclofen in plasma and urine by gas chromatography using a chiral fused-silica capillary column and an electron-capture detector

A sensitive and enantiospecific gas chromatographic method for the determination of the S(+)- and R(-)-enantiomers of baclofen (I and II) in plasma and urine has been developed and validated. The method is based on the complete resolution of the derivatized enantiomers on a chiral fused-silica capillary column. The hydrochloride salt of a (-)-fluoro analogue of baclofen (III.HCl) was used as the internal standard in plasma, the hydrochloride salt of a (+)-fluoro analogue of baclofen (IV.HCl) as the internal standard in urine. Rapid and convenient isolation of the compounds was achieved using reversed-phase Bond-Elut C18 columns. After elution, the compounds were converted into isobutyl esters and purified by base-specific solvent extraction. The isobutyl esters were then N-acylated with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. The derivatives were quantitated after separation on the chiral column using electron-capture detection. The analysis of spiked plasma and urine samples demonstrated the good accuracy and precision of the method, with limits of quantitation of 25 nmol/l for I and II in plasma and of 2 mumol/l for I and II in urine. The method appears to be suitable for use in pharmacokinetic studies of the enantiomers in plasma and urine from animals and man after administration of the racemic baclofen.     

Chiral gas chromatographic assay with flame ionization detection for amphetamine enantiomers in microsomal incubates

A chiral assay for amphetamine enantiomers in rat liver microsomal incubates is based on derivatization with (S)-(-)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-prolyl chloride (S-TFPC), capillary chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric amide derivatives, and detection by a flame ionization detector. The method is capable of detecting low levels of S- or R-amphetamine. The assay is linear from 5 to 250 micrograms/mL for each enantiomer, and the limit of detection is 0.5 microgram/mL. The analytical method affords the average recoveries of 77.53 +/- 5.22% for R-amphetamine and 74.47 +/- 3.08% for S-amphetamine. The method allows the study of the metabolic depletion of S- and R-amphetamine in rat liver microsomal incubates. The time-dependent concentration of amphetamine enantiomers in rat liver microsomes was determined, and the stereoselectivity of amphetamine phase I metabolism was observed.     

Separation of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) with electron-capture detection (ECD) has been optimized for the separation of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, with emphasis on the selection of the first- and second-dimension, commercially available, columns. When eight second-dimension columns were subsequently combined with a 100% methylpolysiloxane stationary phase (DB-1) in the first dimension to create orthogonal conditions, a complete separation of all congeners with different TEF values was obtained with two column combinations, DB-1 x VF-23 and DB-1 x LC-50. When other types of first-dimension columns were used (and orthogonality was partly sacrificed), a DB-XLB column combined with 007-65HT, VF-23 and LC-50 was found to provide a complete separation of all 29 priority congeners. Next, the potential of these three column combinations for real-life analysis was preliminarily studied. With a spiked and fractionated milk extract, DB-XLB x LC-50 was found to be the most powerful column combination, because of the good separation of the 29 priority congeners from each other as well as from the matrix constituents. Quantitative performance (close to three-order linearity; LODs, 30-150 fg injected; R.S.D.s, 1.5-6.5% (n = 10)) was satisfactory.     

An efficient synthesis of (R)- and (S)-8-ethoxy-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-nitro-2H-chromene

Racemic 8-ethoxy-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-nitro-2H-chromene (S14161) was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). In order to investigate the effects of its two enantiomers on tumor cell lines, we designed a novel synthesis for (R)-S14161 and (S)-S14161 using a chemical resolution and derivation strategy. The readily available 3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-salicylaldehyde underwent a tandem oxa-Michael–Henry reaction with trans-4-fluoro-β-nitrostyrene in the presence of a catalytic amount of l-proline and triethylamine to give the 3-nitro-2H-chromene. Upon removal of the TBS protecting group, the resolution of the resulting racemic 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-8-hydroxy-3-nitro-2H-chromene was achieved via diastereomeric ester formation using (S)-(+)-α-methoxyphenylacetic acid as the derivatizing agent, followed by aminolysis. Finally, the ethyl ether formation of each enantiomer furnished (R)-S14161 and (S)-S14161 in enantiomerically pure forms. The absolute configurations of these chiral molecules were determined by a circular dichroism method. The two enantiomers showed no marked differences in inhibition of growth of human myeloma LP1 and OPM-2 cells.     

A Validated Chiral HPLC Method for the Determination of Enantiomeric Purity of R-β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid

A normal phase chiral LC method for chiral purity evaluation of β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid was developed on donor–acceptor (pirkle) column. The chiral stationary phase used was a 250 × 4.6 mm (R, R) Whelk-01 with 5 μm particle size, which was accompanied with a 1 cm long guard column. The “hybrid” pi-electron donor–acceptor based stationary phase (R, R) Whelk-01 was found to be enantiomeric selective for (R) and (S) enantiomers of β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid with a resolution >2.5. The concentration of 2-propanol and TFA in the mobile phase plays an important role on the chrmatographic efficiency and resolution between the enantiomers. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of (S) enantiomer was 0.3 and 1.0 μg mL^-1 for 20 μL injection volume. The percentage RSD of the peak area of six replicate injections of (S) enantiomer at LOQ concentration was 4.5. The percentage recovery of (S) enantiomer from (R) enantiomer samples ranged from 92 to 100. The test solution was observed to be stable up to 24 h after the preparation. The developed method was also checked by different analysts and on different lots of columns, reagents and it was proved to be rugged. The developed normal phase chiral LC method can be used for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of R-β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid.     

Synthesis of the optical isomers of 4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-oxo- pyrrolidine-4-yl]methyloxybenzoic acid (S-2) and their biological evaluation as antilipidemic agent

The enantiomers of (+/-)-4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-oxo-pyrrolidine- 4-yl]methyloxybenzoic acid (S-2), a new antilipidemic agent having dual action on the plasma triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (Cho) lowering effects, were prepared via separation by Chiralcel OJ column chromatography of their methyl ester and also by the same method as the described racemate's synthesis from optically active 1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-4-carboxylic acid respectively. These optically active carboxylic acids were prepared by the resolution of diastereomeric N-[(S)-(-)-[4-methyl-(alpha-methyl)benzyl]]-1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-oxo - pyrrolidine-4-carboxyamide using silica gel column chromatography, followed by deamination with N2O4. The absolute configurations for the enantiomers of S-2 were indirectly determined using X-ray analysis of the 4-bromo-2-fluorobenzamide of the (+)-4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2- oxo-pyrrolidine-4-yl]-methyloxybenzoic acid. S-2 and its enantiomers showed an essentially equipotent activity on the fatty acid- and sterol-biosynthesis inhibition in vitro. On the other hand, in the in vivo activity, (S)-(+)-4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-oxo-pyrrolidine- 4-yl]methyloxybenzoic acid (S-2E) was superior in the lowering abilities of the plasma TG and phospholipid(PL) and was chosen as a candidate for a novel antilipidemic agent. The difference in the in vivo activity among S-2 and its enantiomers was explained from the pharmacokinetics after administration p.o.     

Simultaneous determination of (R)- and (S)-celiprolol in human plasma and urine: high-performance liquid chromatographic assay on a chiral stationary phase with fluorimetric detection

The quantitative enantiospecific determination of the beta 1-selective adrenergic antagonist (R,S)-celiprolol in human plasma and urine is described. It involves a two-step liquid-liquid extraction of celiprolol from biological material and separation of the underivatized enantiomers by high-performance liquid chromatography on a chiral stationary phase (cellulose tris-3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate, coated on silica gel) with fluorimetric detection. R-(+)-Propranolol was used as an internal standard. The detection limits of 1.5 ng/ml enantiomer in plasma and 2.5 ng/ml enantiomer in urine at signal-to-noise ratios higher than 3 permit the performance of pharmacokinetic studies after therapeutic doses.     

Novel enantioselective strong cation exchangers based on sulfodipeptide selectors: evaluation for enantiomer separation of chiral bases by nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography

Strong cation exchange (SCX)-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on beta-amino sulfonic acid-terminated dipeptide derivatives as chiral selectors, immobilized on thiol-modified silica particles (3.5 microm), were synthesized and applied to enantiomer separations of chiral bases by nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of structural variations of the sulfodipeptide selectors on the separation factors alpha was investigated. These studies included variation of the acid-terminal amino sulfonic acid residue, variation of the configurations, i.e., comparison of the diastereomeric (S,S)- and (R,S)-configurations of the sulfodipeptides, and finally comparison of sulfodipeptide selectors with corresponding beta-amino sulfonic acid analogs. In general, the capillary columns (100 microm ID) packed with the new SCX-type CSPs showed enantioselectivity for an elaborated set of chiral basic drugs in CEC acting by an enantioselective cation-exchange retention mechanism. N-[N-(4-Allyloxy-3,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-leucyl]-2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutane sulfonic acid, in particular with (R,S)-configuration, turned out to be a more effective SCX-type selector than a more rigid analog based on N-[N-(4-Allyloxy-3,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-leucyl]-2-pyrrolidinemethane sulfonic acid. Both of the former diastereomers were capable to baseline-resolve the enantiomers of ca. 40% of the tested basic chiral solutes including sympathomimetics and beta-blockers, while for the latter SCX-type CSPs only 10-20% of the selected solutes afforded resolutions > 1.5.     

Simultaneous enantioselective determination of fenbuconazole and its main metabolites in soil and water by chiral liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A novel and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of fenbuconazole and its main metabolites enantioselectively using chiral liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The separation and determination were performed using reversed-phase chromatography on a cellulose chiral stationary phase, a Chiralcel OD-RH (150 mm×4.6 mm) column, under isocratic conditions at 0.5 mL/min flow rate. The effects of three cellulose-based columns and three amylose-based columns on the separation were also investigated. The elution orders of the eluting enantiomers were identified by an optical rotation detector. The QuEChERS (acronym for Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method and solid-phase extraction (SPE) were used for the extraction and clean-up of the soil and water samples, respectively. Parameters including the matrix effect, linearity, precision, accuracy and stability were evaluated. Under optimal conditions, the mean recoveries for all enantiomers from the soil samples were 82.5-104.1% with 2.7-9.5% intra-day relative standard deviations (RSD) and 5.7-11.2% inter-day RSD at 5, 25 and 50 μg/kg levels; the mean enantiomer recoveries from the water samples were 81.8-104.6% with 2.6-11.4% intra-day RSD and 5.3-10.4% inter-day RSD at 0.25, 0.5 and 2.5 μg/L levels. Coefficients of determination R2≥0.9991 were achieved for each enantiomer in the soil and water matrix calibration curves within the range of 1.0-125 μg/L. The limits of detection (LOD) for all enantiomers in the soil and water were less than 0.8 μg/kg, whereas the limit of quantification (LOQ) did not exceed 2.5 μg/kg. The results of the method validation confirm that this proposed method is convenient and reliable for the enantioselective determination of the enantiomers of fenbuconazole and its main metabolites in soil and water.     

Stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of acebutolol in human plasma and urine

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic technique is described for the separation of R- and S-acebutolol in human plasma and urine. The procedure involves derivatization with the chiral reagent S-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl isocyanate. The resulting diastereoisomers are quantified using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (220/389 nm). Virtual baseline separation, free from interference, with achieved (resolution factor = 1.45). Excellent linearity (r greater than 0.998) was observed throughout the range 10-500 ng/l and 2-100 mg/l in plasma and urine, respectively. Inter-assay variability was less than 5% for each enantiomer at concentrations of 10 ng/ml. This method is applicable for the determination of the pharmacokinetics, in man, of acebutolol enantiomers in plasma and urine.     

Sensitized phosphorescence as detection method for the enantioseparation of bupropion by capillary electrophoresis

A new CE detection method was developed for the chiral drug bupropion (a second-generation antidepressant), based on phosphorescence both in the direct and in the sensitized mode using pulsed laser excitation at 266 nm. Electrokinetic chromatography using 5 mM sulfated-α-CD as chiral selector in 25 mM phosphate buffer at pH 3 allowed the separation of bupropion enantiomers with a high chiral resolution (Rs>3). In the sensitized phosphorescence detection mode, excitation energy is transferred from the analyte to an acceptor (1-bromo-4-napthhalenesulfonic acid or biacetyl) followed by time-resolved phosphorescence detection under deoxygenated buffer conditions. Using 2 × 10(-4) M biacetyl as the acceptor an LOD of 2 × 10(-7) M was obtained for each enantiomer, about 40 times better than in the direct mode. Under these separation conditions, no significantly different phosphorescence lifetimes (measured on-line) were obtained for the two bupropion enantiomers. The suitability of the method was demonstrated with the quantification of bupropion in a pharmaceutical formulation and its determination in a spiked urine sample.     

Chiral separation of methadone, 2-ethylidene- 1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) and 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline (EMDP) by capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrin derivatives

A stereoselective method was developed for the simultaneous determination of methadone and its two major metabolites, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) and 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline (EMDP) by capillary electrophoresis. Five beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) background electrolyte (BGE) additives were evaluated for resolution efficiency. The conditions for baseline resolution of each of the three enantiomer pairs was determined to be 1 mM heptakis-(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DMbetaCD) in 100 mM phosphate at pH 2.6. This method represents the first successful method for the resolution of the six enantiomers associated with the metabolism of methadone. The utilisation of doubly coated capillaries in conjunction with betaCD derivatives for a faster separation of the methadone-related enantiomers is also reported. The coated capillaries were prepared using a polycation of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC) and a polyanion of dextran sulfate. Baseline resolution of the methadone enantiomers was achieved with a BGE of 8 mM (2-hydroxy)propyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) in 100 mM phosphate at pH 2.6. The migration times for the stereoselective methadone separation were approximately 4 min, which represented a reduction by a factor of approximately three, compared to that attained using analogous conditions with the uncoated capillary.     

Simultaneous determination of R- and S-prenylamine in plasma and urine by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of R- and S-prenylamine in human plasma and urine is described. It involves a two-step liquid-liquid extraction of prenylamine from biological material and preparation of diastereomeric urea derivatives with R-(-)-naphthylethyl isocyanate, a chiral fluorescence marker. Separation and quantitation of the diastereomeric prenylamine derivatives are carried out by a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic system with fluorimetric detection. The limit of determination is less than 2 ng of enantiomer per ml of urine and less than 1 ng of enantiomer per ml of plasma. A preliminary kinetic study on one healthy volunteer who had received a single oral dose of racemic prenylamine (100-mg film tablet) showed distinctly higher plasma and urine concentrations of the R-enantiomer.     

Normal-phase chiral liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of non-UV-active compounds: applications for pharmaceutically relevant racemates

Mixtures of hexane-like ethoxynonafluorobutane with alcohols were used as MS-friendly mobile phases for separation and efficient detection of non-UV-active enantiomers and diastereomers using normal-phase HPLC-APCI-MS. Racemic muscone, camphorsulfonamide, camphorsultam, BOC-protected 1-(3-aminopropyl)-2-pipecoline and diastereomeric 2-methylhexanoyl camphorsultams were resolved on Chiralpak AS and AD and achiral Luna CN columns. The responses of UV and APCI-MS detectors were compared under separation conditions studied, with MS detection achieving lowest detectable quantity in the range of 0.5-2 ng per chromatographic peak. The absolute configuration of crystalline derivatives of racemic 2-methylhexanoic acid with (S)-(-)-2,10-camphorsultam was determined by X-ray analysis after their automatic purification by preparative LC-MS. The technique described can be used to purify and determine the absolute stereochemistry of compounds of unknown structure which contain free carboxy group and lack sufficient UV absorbance.     

The CGC enantiomer separation of 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters by using β-cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral stationary phases

Chiral 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters are important intermediates in preparation of enantioenriched 2-arylpropionic acids type Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Enantiomer separation of 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters is crucial for evaluation of the asymmetric synthesis efficiency and the enantiomer excess of chiral 2-arylcarboxylic acid derivatives. The capillary gas chromatography (CGC) enantiomer separation of 17 pairs of 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters enantiomers was conducted by using seven different β-cyclodextrin derivatives (CDs) as chiral stationary phases. It was found that for the 7 pairs of 2-phenylpropionates enantiomers, CDs with both alkyl and acyl substituents especially 2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-butyryl-β-cyclodextrin exhibited better enantiomer separation abilities than the other CDs examined. For the 7 pairs of 2-(4-substituted phenyl)propionates enantiomers, 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin possessed better enantiomer separation abilities than the other CDs. Among the 3 pairs of 2-phenylbutyrates enantiomers examined, only methyl 2-phenylbutyrate enantiomers could be separated by three CDs among the 7 CDs tested, while enantiomers of ethyl 2-phenylbutyrate and isopropyl 2-phenylbutyrate couldn't be separated by any of the 7 CDs tested. Besides the structures of CDs, the structures of 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters including different ester moieties, substituents of phenyl, and different carboxylic acids moieties in 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters also affected the enantiomer separation results greatly. The CGC enantiomer separation results of 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters on different CDs are useful for solving the enantiomer separation problem of 2-arylcarboxylic acid esters.