Molecular Recognition and Enantiomer Separations on a novel chiral stationary phase based on a 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene]-derived molecular cleft

An optically active molecular cleft incorporating a 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene] spacer and two N-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)carboxamide: (CONH(naphthyr)) moieties as H-bonding sites was covalently bound to silica gel to provide the new chiral stationary phase (CSP) (R)- 16 (Scheme 2). Previous solution-binding studies in CDCl₃ had shown that the anchored molecular cleft was capable of complexing optically active dicarboxylic acids with differences in free energy of the formed diastereoisomeric complexes (Δ(ΔG⁰)) between 0.5 and 1.6 kcal mol^?1 (T = 300 K). The optical resolution of racemic dicarboxylic acids, that are bound with a high degree of enantioselectivity in the liquid phase, was now achieved by HPLC on the CSP (R)- 16. The order of enantiomer elution was as predicted from the solution studies, and the separation factor α varied between 1.18 and 1.24. A series of 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol derivatives were also resolved on the new CSP, in some cases with baseline separation. The order of enantiomer elution under normal-phase chromatographic conditions was rationalized by computer modeling of the association between the solute enantiomers and the immobilized molecular cleft. HPLC Separations with eluents of different polarity suggested that the attractive interactions between solute and immobilized chiral selector are a combination of H-bonding, which prevails in apolar eluents, and aromatic π--π stacking, which dominates in polar eluents.     

Resolution of enantiomers and isotopic compositions by selective complexation gas chromatography on metal complexes

Summary The high selectivity of complexation gas chromatography has been employed for enantiomer resolution and isotope separation. Thus, a chiral olefin, 3-methylcyclopentene, has been resolved analytically on optically active dicarbonyl-rhodium(I)-3-trifluoroacetyl-1R-camphorate in squalane. The deuterated ethylenes C₂H_4–nD_n have been separated on the same rhodium(I)-containing stationary phase. The chiral aliphatic oxiranes epoxypropane andtrans-2,3-epoxybutane have been resolved on optically active nickel(II)-bis-3-trifluoroacetyl-1R-camphorate in squalane.     

Enantiomer separation by enantioselective inclusion complexation–organic solvent nanofiltration

A novel chiral separation process, which utilizes a combination of enantioselective inclusion complexation (EIC) and organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN), was developed. Although EIC is an attractive way to resolve racemates, the difficulties associated with enantiomer recovery and chiral host recycle has limited large-scale applications. EIC coupled with OSN replaces distillation for the recovery of enantiomers from enantioenriched solid complex. A decomplexation solvent is employed to dissociate enantiomers from the complex, and subsequent separation of enantiomers from the chiral host is realized using OSN. The new process was investigated using racemic 1-phenylethanol as the guest and (R,R)-TADDOL as the chiral host. This novel technology expands the application of EIC to the resolution of nonvolatile racemates, and enables large-scale application.     

A Validated LC Method for Determination of the Enantiomeric Purity of Montelukast Sodium in Bulk Drug Samples and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A new and accurate chiral liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determination of the enantiomeric purity of montelukast sodium (R enantiomer) in bulk drugs and dosage forms. Normal phase chromatographic separation was performed on an immobilized amylose-based chiral stationary phase with n-hexane–ethanol–1,4-dioxane–trifluoroacetic acid–diethylamine 65:25:10:0.3:0.05 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. The elution time was approximately 15 min. The resolution (R _S) between the enantiomers was >3. The mobile phase additives trifluoroacetic acid and diethylamine played a key role in achieving chromatographic resolution between the enantiomers and also in enhancing chromatographic efficiency. Limits of detection and quantification for the S enantiomer were 0.07 and 0.2 μg, respectively, for a test concentration of montelukast sodium of 1,000 μg mL^?1 and 10 μL injection volume. The linearity of the method for the S enantiomer was excellent (R ² > 0.999) over the range from the LOQ to 0.3%. Recovery of the S enantiomer from bulk drug samples and dosage forms ranged from 97.0 to 103.0%, indicative of the high accuracy of the method. Robustness studies were also conducted. The sample solution stability of montelukast sodium was determined and the compound was found to be stable for a study period of 48 h.     

Enantioselective separation of thalidomide on an immobilized α1-acid glycoprotein chiral stationary phaseglycoprotein chiral stationary phase

Summary An easy and rapid enantioselective separation for assay of racemic thalidomide on an immobilized α₁-acid glycoprotein chiral stationary phase (GPA CSP) is described. The effects of tetrahydrofuran (THF) as organic modifier, buffer concentration to control the ionic strenth, and mobile phase pH were studied. These variations have consequences in terms of chromatographic retention (k), resolution (R _s), selectivity (α), and peak asymmetry (USP tailing factor). The main condition affecting chromatographic retention was mobile phase pH. At pH 4.5, no separation of thalidomide enantiomers was achieved whereas at pH 7.9 chiral separation was optimum. Peak tailing was directly related to changes in pH and to addition of THF as mobile phase modifier. Results also indicated that the resolution factor is THF concentration-dependent, and that the separation factor (α) is the best parameter for evaluating enantioselectivity. The best mobile phase was pH 7.0, 30 mM ammonium acetate containing 0.3% THF. Under these conditions validation including linearity, recovery, and precision was performed. The suitability of this method has been successfully proved in a limited in-vivo study after intravenous administration of thalidomide to a New Zealand male rabbit.     

Chiral ligand-exchange separation and resolution of extremely rigid glutamate analogs: 1-aminospiro[2.2]pentyl-1,4-dicarboxylic acids

Owing to their chelation ability, a series of fully constrained l-Glu analogs formed by the spiro-union of two cyclopropane rings (1-aminospiro[2.2]pentyl-1,4-dicarboxylic acids, ASPED A–D), was submitted to chiral ligand-exchange chromatographic (CLEC) analysis. As the initial step, two methodologically different chiral devices were evaluated. A chiral stationary phase (CSP) obtained by dynamic coating of C₁₈ chains with the S-trityl-(R)-cysteine ((R)-STC) was used first with this objective. The lack of separation of the enantiomers of ASPED C and D prompted us to utilize the chiral mobile phase (CMP) prepared from O-benzyl-(S)-serine ((S)-OBS). The latter afforded complete separation of the four pairs of enantiomers. For all the pairs, quantum mechanical investigations shed light on the main features responsible for the different enantiomer recognition mechanism with (S)-OBS. The validated analytical method was then fruitfully adopted for semi-preparative-scale isolation of the enantiomers of ASPED C.     

Enantioselective determination of ketamine in dog plasma by chiral liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Ketamine is an N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate receptor antagonist that is usually used clinically as a racemic mixture. Its two enantiomers exhibit different pharmacological activities. To determine whether the enantiomers have different pharmacokinetic profiles, a chiral liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of ketamine enantiomers in dog plasma. The enantiomers of ketamine were extracted from 50 μL of plasma by methyl tert‐butyl ether. Adequate chromatographic retention and baseline resolution of the enantiomers were achieved within a runtime of 5 min on a chiral column coated with polysaccharide derivatives, using a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile and 10 mm ammonium bicarbonate aqueous solution. Ketamine enantiomers were detected by mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring mode using the transitions of m/z 238.3 → 125.9 for the analytes and m/z 237.1 → 194.1 for carbamazepine (internal standard). The method was linear over the concentration range from 0.5 to 500 ng/mL for each enantiomer. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for each enantiomer was 0.5 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision was <7.3% and 8.5% for R‐ and S‐ketamine, respectively. The accuracy was 92.9–110.4% for R‐ketamine and 99.8–102.4% for S‐ketamine. The method was successfully applied to characterize the stereoselective pharmacokinetic profiles of ketamine in beagle dogs.     

Chiral HPLC and physical characterisation of orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystals

New orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystalline materials were synthesised and characterised in their racemic forms and as (S) enantiomers. The materials possess oligo-methylene spacers of different lengths in semi-fluorinated achiral chains and lateral substitution by fluorine at two different positions of the molecular core. For comparison purposes, analogical materials without fluorine lateral substitutions were also prepared. Polysaccharide chiral stationary phases based on two different chiral selectors were used for the separation of the enantiomers of the individual racemic mixtures by high-performance liquid chromatography. A baseline separation of (S) and (R) enantiomers was obtained for four of the six studied liquid crystalline materials. Two of the materials were partially separated under the optimised separation conditions. The elution order of the individual enantiomers in the racemic mixtures was successfully assigned, as pure (S) enantiomers of all the studied materials were available. Both the position of the fluorine atom within the molecular core and the size of the achiral moiety had significant effects on the separation of the individual enantiomers of the studied compounds. Moreover, it was also found that the structure of the chiral stationary phase selector significantly influenced the enantiomeric resolution.     

β‐Cyclodextrin Functionalized Nanoporous Graphene Oxides for Efficient Resolution of Asparagine Enantiomers

Efficient resolution of racemic mixture has long been an attractive but challenging subject since Pasteur separated tartrate enantiomers in 19^th century. Graphene oxide (GO) could be flexibly functionalized by using a variety of chiral host molecules and therefore, was expected to show excellent enantioselective resolution performance. However, this combination with efficient enantioselective resolution capability has been scarcely demonstrated. Here, nanoporous graphene oxides were produced and then covalently functionalized by using a chiral host material‐β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD). This chiral GO displayed enantioselective affinity toward the l ‐enantiomers of amino acids. In particular, >99 % of l ‐asparagine (Asn) was captured in a racemic solution of Asn while the adsorption of d ‐enantiomer was not observed. This remarkable resolution performance was subsequently modelled by using an attach‐pull‐release dynamic method. We expect this preliminary concept could be expanded to other chiral host molecules and be employed to current membrane separation technologies and finally show practical use for many other racemates.     

Development of a high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of chiral impurities and assay of (S)‐clopidogrel using a cellulose‐based chiral stationary phase in methanol/water mode

A simple reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the chiral separation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (S)‐clopidogrel has been developed on the cellulose‐based Chiralcel OJ‐RH chiral stationary phase. The S enantiomer was baseline resolved from its R impurity (impurity C) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol/water (100:15) without any interference coming from the other two potential chiral impurities A and B. The enantio‐ and chemoselective method was partially validated and compared with that reported in the United States Pharmacopoeia for the drug product. The versatility of the Chiralcel OJ‐RH allowed separating the enantiomers of the impurity B also under normal phase and setting up an efficient strategy to convert the racemic sample into the enantiomeric S form on a semipreparative scale.     

Chiral analytical method development of liquiritigenin with application to a pharmacokinetic study

Pharmacometric characterization studies of liquiritigenin have historically overlooked its chiral nature. To achieve complete characterization, an analytical method enabling the detection and quantification of the individual enantiomers of racemic (±) liquiritigenin is necessary. Resolution of the enantiomers of liquiritigenin was achieved using a simple high‐performance liquid chromatographic method. A Chiralpak® ADRH column was employed to perform baseline separation with UV detection at 210 nm.The standard curves were linear ranging from 0.5 to 100 µg/mL for each enantiomer. Limit of quantification was 0.5 µg/mL. The assay was applied successfully to stereoselective serum disposition of liquiritigenin enantiomers in rats. Liquiritigenin enantiomers were detected in serum as both aglycones and glucuronidated conjugates. Both unconjugated enantiomers had a serum half‐life of ~15 min in rats. The volume of distribution (V_d) for S‐ and R‐liquiritigenin was 1.49 and 2.21 L/kg, respectively. Total clearance (Cl_total) was 5.12 L/h/kg for S‐liquiritigenin and 4.79 L/h/kg for R‐liquiritigenin, and area under the curve (AUC_0‐inf) was 3.95 µg h/mL for S‐liquiritigenin and 4.23 µg h/mL for R‐liquiritigenin. The large volume of distribution coupled with the short serum half‐life suggests extensive distribution of liquiritigenin into tissues. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new approach to the chiral separation of novel diazenes

Two new types of potential liquid‐crystalline azo compounds were synthesized in the form of racemic mixtures and as the individual S enantiomers. Both materials consisting of two substituted aromatic rings in the molecular core and one chiral center at the aliphatic moiety showed mesomorphic behavior. The separation of the R and S enantiomers by chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography was unsuccessful when the azo compounds were in their natural E state. However, the irradiation of the compounds in the solution by UV light led to an almost quantitative transition to their Z forms. The chromatographic behavior of the compounds in their Z forms was significantly different, and partial separation of the individual enantiomers on chiral polysaccharide‐based stationary phases was obtained. Thus, the proposed procedure represents a novel approach to the enantioseparation of chiral diazenes.     

Supercritical fluid extraction: a novel method for the resolution of tetramisole

A new resolution method, based on the selective distribution of enantiomers between a chiral solid and an achiral supercritical fluid phase, is reported. The chiral solid phase is formed from the optically active dicarboxylic acid derivative, (2R,3R)-O,O′-dibenzoyltartaric acid, and the racemic base (tetramisole). A new method is also described for the enrichment of enantiomeric mixtures which have an enantiomeric ratio other than 1:1. This is based on the partial salt formation of the enantiomeric mixture with an achiral substance, which is then followed by supercritical fluid extraction of the free enantiomer. The extract has an enantiomeric composition which is different from the starting mixture. The method is applied to an enantiomeric mixture of tetramisole with hydrochloric acid.     

Resolution of N-methylamphetamine enantiomers with tartaric acid derivatives by supercritical fluid extraction

The resolution of N-methylamphetamine (MA) was carried out with the resolution agents O,O′-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid monohydrate (DBTA) and O,O′-di-p-toluoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid (DPTTA). After partial diastereomeric salt formation, the unreacted enantiomers were extracted by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The effects of resolution agent molar ratio to the racemic mixture (mr), extraction pressure (P) and temperature (T) on the resolution efficiency were studied. The best chiral separation was obtained at a quarter of an equivalent resolution agent molar ratio for both resolution agents. Extraction conditions [pressure (100–200 bar), temperature (33–63 °C)] did not influence the resolution efficiency, which makes the enantiomer separation robust. In one extraction step, both enantiomers can be produced with high enantiomeric excess (ee) and remarkable yield (Y). Using DBTA as a resolution agent ee_E=83%, Y_E=45% for the extract and ee_R=82%, Y_R=42% for the raffinate were obtained.     

Naphthopyranquinone Antibiotics: Novel enantioselective syntheses of frenolicin B and some of its stereoisomers

Two new enantioselective syntheses of the naphthopyranquinone antibiotic frenolicin B ( 1 ), of its enantiomer 2 , and of its diastereoisomers 3 and 4 were accomplished using two different routes from optically active β-Hydroxy esters (R)- and (S)- 11 and 18. β-Hydroxy esters (R)- and (S)- 11 were prepared stereoselectively from optically active sulfenylacetates (S)- and (R)- 10 , respectively (Scheme 2, Method A). Alternatively, compound 18 was obtained in excellent yield by enantioselective hydrogenation of the corresponding β-keto ester 17 , using a chiral ruthenium-complex catalyst (Scheme 3, Method B). Subsequently, compounds (S)- 11 and 18 were transformed into frenolicin B (1). In analogy, Stereoisomers 2–4 were prepared from (S)- and (R)- 11 in good yields.     

Enantioseparation of selected chiral sulfoxides in high‐performance liquid chromatography with polysaccharide‐based chiral selectors in polar organic mobile phases with emphasis on enantiomer elution order

The separation of the enantiomers of 17 chiral sulfoxides was studied on polysaccharide‐based chiral columns in polar organic mobile phases. Enantiomer elution order (EEO) was the primary objective in this study. Two of the six chiral columns, especially those based on amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) and cellulose tris(4‐chloro‐3‐methylphenylcarbamate) (Lux Cellulose‐4) proved to be most successful in the separation of the enantiomers of the studied sulfoxides. Interesting examples of EEO reversal were observed depending on the chiral selector or the composition of the mobile phase. For instance, the R‐(+) enantiomer of lansoprazole eluted before the S‐(?) enantiomer on Lux Cellulose‐1 in both methanol or ethanol as the mobile phase, while the elution order was opposite in the same eluents on amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) with the S‐(?) enantiomer eluting before the R‐(+) enantiomer. The R‐(+) enantiomer of omeprazole eluted first on Lux Amylose‐2 in methanol but it was second when acetonitrile was used as the mobile phase with the same chiral selector. Several other examples of reversal in EEO were observed in this study. An interesting example of the separation of four stereoisomers of phenaminophos sulfoxide containing chiral sulfur and phosphor atoms is also reported here.     

Enantiomeric separation of racemic sulphoxides on chiral stationary phases by gas and liquid chromatography

Summary The enantiomeric resolution of seven racemic sulphoxides on chiral stationary phases has been investigated by gas and liquid chromatography. In gas chromatography the separations were performed on octakis-(2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-butyryl)-γ-cyclodextrin (FS Lipodex-E) and heptakis-(2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-pentyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DMP-β-CD). Both stationary phases were suitable for separation of the enantiomers of the sulphoxides. With one exception for each series all racemetes could be resolved on both stationary phases; FS Lipodex-E was more enantioselective than DMP-β-CD, whereas the latter seemed more generally applicable. Liquid chromatographic separations with Chiralcel-OB as stationary phase were significantly improved by optimization of mobile phase composition and temperature. Resolution factors up to R_s=6 were achieved indicating that the improved separations could now be easily used for preparative purposes.     

Stereoelective polymerization of tert-butyl thiirane

The polymerization in bulk of racemic tert-butyl thiirane with a chiral initiator resulting from the reaction between diethylzinc and (? )3,3-dimethyl-1,2-butanediol produces an optically active polymer by preferential consumption of R enantiomer. The unreacted monomer is enriched in S enantiomer. The relative rate r of consumption of R enantiomer versus S enantiomer is as high as 2.8. Obtained polymer could be separated into two crystalline fractions: an optically active fraction, formed from regular sequences of R type enantiomeric units, and an optically inactive fraction which corresponds to a racemate. Experimental results are consistent with a stereospecific mechanism of addition, the two enantiomers being chosen by two different type of sites. The stereoelective process is due to an unequal number of these two types of sites.     

Effects of the dynamic modification of stationary phases by sorbates in gas chromatography: The possibility of separating enantiomers in achiral systems

It is shown that the gas chromatographic separation of enantiomers on columns with achiral nonpolar stationary phases is principally possible as a result of the dynamic modification of stationary phases by sorbates under analysis. It is found that a number of key characteristic features is intrinsic to such separation: it can be only partial, it does not occur for all chromatographic columns, and it is observed only for some compounds and only within narrow ranges of quantities of sorbates that are close to the limits of mass overload of chromatographic systems. These characteristic features are illustrated by the examples of separating (1R,5R)-(+)- and (1S,5S)-(?)-α-pinenes on a WCOT column with an RTX-5 phase. The main characteristic feature of the separation of enantiomers as a result of the dynamic modification of stationary phases is the nonconformity of peaks in chromatograms with two individual enantiomers, compared to other ways and means for their separation; the first eluting peak belongs to the enantiomer that predominates in a mixture irrespective of its configuration, while the second peak corresponds to the racemic mixture of enantiomers; i.e., the ratio of peak areas in chromatograms does not correspond to the actual ratio of enantiomers in samples under analysis and is strongly distorted as a result of their incomplete separation. It is concluded that the separation of racemic mixtures in achiral systems is fundamentally impossible under any conditions, and this is one of the key criteria of the validity of the considered concept as a whole.     

Chiral induction from ligands to metal centres. A copper(II)–nitroxide complex

Copper(II) complexes of a racemic mixture of a chiral nitronyl-nitroxide are characterised. One, A, is a centro-symmetrical species where two enantiomers are coordinated to a metal centre. The second, B, is a 1D compound comprising bridging ligands through the oxyl and pyridyl donor sites. One observes that, although the crystals are racemic, within a chain, all ligands and metal centres have respectively the same chirality. Possibilities of obtaining optically active extended structures through chiral induction from nitroxide ligands to metal ions are discussed in relation with molecular spin transition species.