Synergistic effects of ion-pairing in the enantiomeric separation of basic compounds with cyclodextrin derivatives in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

The enantiomeric separation of various kinds of basic pharmaceuticals has been investigated in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) systems using an ion-pairing reagent in combination with cyclodextrins (CDs). The simultaneous addition to the methanolic background electrolyte (BGE) of (+)-S-camphorsulfonate or alkanesulfonates and an anionic beta-cyclodextrin derivative, heptakis(2,3-dimethyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin (HDMS-beta-CD), led to partial or complete enantioresolution in most cases. In the absence of ion-pairing reagent, the enantiomeric resolution obtained with this CD derivative was most often completely lost or strongly reduced, indicating the important role of ion-pairing in the chiral recognition mechanism in these NACE systems. The influence of the nature and concentration of the counterion and the anionic CD derivative on the enantioseparation of basic compounds was studied. Synergistic effects between these two kinds of charged additives were clearly observed.