Liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of aryl alpha-amino ketones on a crown ether-based chiral stationary phase

A liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phase based on (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6 covalently bonded to silica gel was applied in the resolution of aryl alpha-amino ketones including cathinone, the main psychoactive alkaloid found in the leaves of the khat plant. The resolution was excellent, the separation factors ranging between 1.72 and 8.58 and the resolution factors (R(S)) ranging between 2.60 and 11.10. The chromatographic resolution behaviour was dependent on the type and the content of organic and acidic modifiers and the ammonium acetate concentration in aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature.