Optimized separation of pesticide enantiomers by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A computer-assisted method is described for optimization of multi-component, mobile phase selection for separating enantiomers of four pesticides in normal-phase HPLC. The method is based on the triangle, solvent-selection concept using a statistical scanning method. The optimization of the separation over the experimental region is based on a special polynomial estimation from seven experimental runs, and resolution (R_s) is used as the selection criterion. Excellent agreement was obtained between predicted and experimental data.     

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.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography: Ion chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography for separation of low-molar-mass organic acids

In the work presented here a novel approach to comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography is evaluated. Ion chromatography is chosen for the first-dimension separation and reversed-phase liquid chromatography is chosen for the second-dimension separation mode. The coupling of these modes is made possible by neutralising the first-dimension effluent, containing KOH, prior to transfer to the second-dimension reversed-phase column. A test mixture of 24 low-molar-mass organic acids is used for optimisation of the system. Three food and beverage samples were analysed in order to evaluate the developed methodology, the resulting two-dimensional separation is near-orthogonal, the set-up is simple and all instrumental components are available commercially. The method proved to be robust and suitable for the analysis of wine, orange juice and yogurt.     

Enantiomer separation by gas chromatography on cyclodextrin chiral stationary phases

Fused silica capillary columns coated with several alkyl or acyl cyclodextrin derivatives, especially those of α- and β-cyclodextrins, are suitable for the enantiomer separation of a wide variety of volatile compounds of different molecular size and functionality. Positional isomers and more than 250 pairs of optical isomers have been resolved, including chiral hydrocarbons, acetals, ethers, epoxides, carbonates, lactones, esters, acids, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, halocarbons, and also nitrogen-and sulfur-containing compounds. The physical properties of the cyclodextrin derivatives, even those obtained as viscous fluids, could be improved by dissolving them in polysiloxane liquid phases commonly used for GLC.     

Direct separation of the enantiomers of cetirizine and related compounds by reversed-phase chiral HPLC

Summary Direct separations of the enantiomers of cetirizine and related compounds have been achieved by reversed-phase HPLC on the Chiralcel OD-R, a polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phase; the mobile phase was usually perchlorate solution supplemented with acetonitrile. Resolution of the enantiomers of cetirizine and related compounds was good. The effect of the acetonitrile content of the mobile phase was investigated, and the effect of the structure of the chiral compounds on their behavior on the Chiralcel OD-R column is discussed.     

On the chromatography mechanism of reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary An equation is derived which can describe how the retention of solutes is influenced by the composition of the mobile phase in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, the retention of solutes in alkyl bonded stationary phase regarded as the complexation between solute molecule and the active sites on the surface of the stationary phase. When the stationary phase is not fully saturated by the organic modifier, the activity of the active sites, the activity coefficient of the adsorbed solute as well as the activity coefficient of the solute in the mobile phase depend on the composition of the mobile phase. However, when the stationary phase is fully saturated, the composition of the mobile phase mainly influences the activity coefficient of the solute in the mobile phase. In addition, the selectivity of retention is discussed in terms of the derived equation.     

Comparison of supercritical fluid chromatography and liquid chromatography for the separation of urinary metabolites of nobiletin with chiral and non-chiral stationary phases

Nobiletin (NOB), a polymethoxylated flavone found in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel, is currently recognized as a promising anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent. It is believed that, by undergoing metabolic biotransformation in vivo, nobiletin is demethylated by hepatic P450 enzymes, yielding multiple hydroxylated metabolites. However, it has not been possible to date to separate the two demethylated nobiletin metabolites, 3'-demethyl-NOB and 4'-demethyl-NOB (regio-isomers) on reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Additionally, both display similar mass spectrometric fragmentation, resulting in difficulties to identify the dominant metabolite. A successful separation method was developed by utilizing supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with chiral stationary phase. The separation was also attempted with normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) in both chiral and non-chiral modes. Chromatographic separation for the two nobiletin metabolites was superior by SFC than by LC, especially using chiral stationary phase. By comparing the SFC profile of the synthesized standards, the major nobiletin metabolite in mouse urine was identified as 4'-demethyl-NOB, with the concentration of 28.9 microg/mL.     

Enantiomer separation of 2-halocarboxylic acid esters by chiral complexation gas chromatography

The enantiomer separation of 2-halocarboxylic acid esters on two chiral nickel(II) bis-((perfluoroacyl)terpeneketonates) by complexation gas chromatography is described. The quantitative entiomer separation of branched 2-halocarboxylic acid esters is achieved with nickel (II) bis (3-(heptafluorobutanoyl)(1R, 2S)-pinan-4-onate) 1 while unbranched 2-halocarboxylic acid esters are preferably separated on nickel(II) bis(3-(heptafluorobutanoyl)-(1S)-10-methylenecamphorate) 2. The metal chelates 1 and 2 are accessible in both enantiomeric forms allowing the determination of the enantiomeric excess (ee) effective and reliable.     

Enantiomer separation of side-chain fluorinated alkylbenzenes by capillary gas chromatography on cyclodextrin phases

Summary The separation of racemic side-chain fluorinated alkylbenzenes and bromofluorinated analogues by capillary gas chromatography using permethylated , and -cyclodextrins dissolved in polysiloxanes of different polarity as stationary phases is described. The influence of the achiral polysiloxane matrices on the separation of enantiomers is discussed in the light of the results obtained with the different phases. For a part of the tested compounds thermodynamic data are determined which describe the interaction of enantiomers with the stationary phase. The mechanism of separation is discussed on this basis and by comparison with data for structurally similar compounds.     

Evaluation of novel amylose and cellulose-based chiral stationary phases for the stereoisomer separation of flavanones by means of nano-liquid chromatography

Three polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases, Sepapak^® 1, Sepapak^® 2 and Sepapak^® 3 have been evaluated in the present work for the stereoisomer separation of a group of 12 flavonoids including flavanones (flavanone, 4′-methoxyflavanone, 6-methoxyflavanone, 7-methoxyflavanone, 2′-hydroxyflavanone, 4′-hydroxyflavanone, 6-hydroxyflavanone, 7-hydroxyflavanone, hesperetin, naringenin) and flavanone glycosides (hesperidin, naringin) by nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC). The behaviour of these chiral stationary phases (CSPs) towards the selected compounds was studied in capillary columns (100 μm internal diameter (i.d.)) packed with the above mentioned CSPs using polar organic, reversed and normal elution modes. The influence of nature and composition of the mobile phase in terms of concentration and type of organic modifier, buffer type and water content (reversed phase elution mode) on the enantioresolution (R_s), retention factor (k) and enantioselectivity (α) was evaluated. Sepapak^® 3 showed the best chromatographic results in terms of enantioresolution, enantioselectivity and short analysis time, employing a polar organic phase mode. A mixture of methanol/isopropanol (20/80, v/v) as mobile phase enabled the chiral separation of eight flavanones with enantioresolution factor (R_s) in the range 1.15–4.18. The same analytes were also resolved employing reversed and normal phase modes with mixtures of methanol/water and hexane/ethanol at different ratios as mobile phases, respectively. Loss in resolution for some compounds, broaden peaks and longer analysis times were observed with these last two chromatographic elution modes.     

Enantiomer separation by counter-current chromatography. Optimisation and drawbacks in the use of L-proline derivatives as chiral selectors

Several L-proline and (4R)-hydroxy-L-proline derivatives were evaluated as chiral selectors (CSs) in the separation of enantiomers by counter-current chromatography (CCC). A variety of biphasic solvent systems, all of organic/aqueous nature, were tested in order to determine the appropriate distribution for CSs and racemates (N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-(+/-)-leucine and (+/-)-ketoprofen). Successful separations of DNB-(+/-)-leucine in analogous experimental conditions allow the comparative study of the enantioselectivity displayed by the considered CSs. The low solubility of certain CSs limits their applicability for preparative purposes even for improved enantioselectivity. The effect that the nature and pH of the buffer solutions used as a component of the solvent system have on the separation was also studied.     

Capillary liquid chromatography as a tool for separation of hydrophobic basic drugs. Relation between tests for column characterization and real analysis

Two capillary columns for reversed phase (RP) capillary liquid chromatography (CLC), viz. Nucleosil 100‐5 C18 and LiChrosorb RP‐select B, were characterized by the Walters test, i.e. the chromatographic test proposed for RP stationary phases. Hydrophobicity indices were determined not only in acetonitrile/water mobile phase, as proposed in the test, but they were also measured in buffered systems. This approach was used to quantify the influence of mobile phase composition on the modification of the surface of the stationary phases. In the next step, small basic compounds differing in their hydrophobicity and basicity were selected and their retention on the stationary phases in mobile phases of the same composition as used for column testing was examined. Furthermore, the retention of newly synthesized drugs, chemotherapeutics derived from thioacridine and pyridoquinoline, differing in their structures, basicity, and hydrophobicity, was also studied. The composition of the mobile phases had to be shifted to higher contents of organic modifiers – acetonitrile or methanol – in order to elute these hydrophobic compounds from the columns. The question we wanted to answer was: How is the method for testing of reversed phases related to retention, separation efficiency, and peak symmetry of various analytes?     

High-speed assay of amino acids using reversed-phase liquid chromatography

A procedure is described by which 20 commonly occurring amino acids may be separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography at room temperature in a total time, including derivatisation with o-phthalaldehyde/2-mercaptoethanol reagent, of approximately 15 minutes. Further, an increase in column temperature enables increased resolution of certain amino acids to be obtained with small but acceptable losses in fluorescence intensity. The only major drawback to the method is that the derivatisation reagent does not react with proline or hydroxyproline.     

Separation of the enantiomers of pyrethroic acids and their esters by high-performance liquid chromatography on a polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phase

Summary The liquid-chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of pyrethroic acids and their esters has been investigated on a polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phase (CSP), Chiralpak AS. Good separation of the enantiomers of underivatized pyrethroic acids was achieved on the column, and the enantiomers of pyrethroic acid methyl and ethyl ester derivatives were also resolved.     

Simultaneous separation of nonionic surfactants and polyethylene glycols by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

Summary The simultaneous separation of polyethylene glycol and its derivatives such as the lauryl alcohol and lauric acid ethoxylate oligomers was carried out by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Branched fluorinated silica gel columns combined with evaporative light scattering detection were used for the characterization of nonionic surfactants. Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate oligomers were separated at 10°C with an isocratic eluent according to ethoxylate number and the retention time of the oligomers decreases with increasing ethoxylate number. The Van’t Hoff plots of retention factor of lauryl alcohol ethoxylate gave a complex cure, which is anomalous behavior for reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. The anomalous Van’t Hoff plots were explained by a partial conformational change from polar to less polar conformers with increasing temperature. The most significant features for the analysis of the lauryl alcohol ethoxylate were the use of acetonitrile as mobile phase and operating temperature. The polyethylene glycol was separated according to ethoxylate number and the retention time of oligomers increased with increasing ethoxylate number. The Van’t Hoff plots of retention factor of polyethylene glycol had negative slopes. It was presumed that the polar conformation of the ethylene oxide chain decreased with increasing temperature. The lauryl alcohol ethoxylate and polyethylene glycol were separated simultaneously in gradient elution as a result of the conformational change of the ethylene oxide chain. As a practical example, lauric acid ethoxylate simultaneously separated into free polyethylene glycol, ethoxylate monolaurate and ethoxylate dilaurate in gradient elution.     

Synthesis of novel chiral imidazolium stationary phases and their enantioseparation evaluation by high-performance liquid chromatography

Two novel chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were prepared by bonding chiral imidazoliums on the surface of silica gel. The chiral imidazoles were derivatized from chiral amines, 1-phenylethylamine and 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine. The obtained CSPs were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis (EA), demonstrating the bonding densities of CSP 1 and CSP 2 were 0.43 mmol g⁻¹ and 0.40 mmol g⁻¹, respectively. These two CSPs could be used to availably separate 8 pharmaceuticals, 7 mandelic acid/its derivatives, 2 1-phenylethylamine derivatives, 1 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, and 1 camphorsulfonic acid in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It is found that CSP 1 could effectively enantioseparate most chiral analytes, especially the acidic components, while CSP 2 could enantiorecognize all chiral analytes, although a number of components did not achieve baseline separation. Additionally, the effects of mobile phase composition, mobile phase pH and salt content, chiral selector structures, and analyte structures on the enantiorecognitions of the two CSPs were investigated. It is found that high acetonitrile content in mobile phases was conducive to enantiorecognition. Mobile phase pH and salt content could alter the retention behaviors of different enantiomers of the same chiral compound, resulting in better enantioresolution. Moreover, both chiral selector structures and substituted groups of analytes played a significant role in the separation of chiral solutes.     

Analytical and semipreparative separation of the enantiomers of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary The resolution of the enantiomers of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was investigated on stationary phases containing cellulose tris-(3,5 methylphenylcarbamide) (Chiralcel OD). The effects of the mobile phase on retention, enantioselectivity and resolution were also studied. Ethanol and isopropanol were tested as organic modifiers and the influence of diethylamine was investigated. The effect of temperature on chiral separations was also studieded.