Determination of mandelic acid enantiomers in urine by derivatization in supercritical carbon dioxide prior to their determination by gas chromatography

The use of a supercritical carbon dioxide reaction medium for the determination of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of mandelic acid (MA) is proposed. The process involves a previous derivatization step under supercritical conditions by which the carboxyl group is esterified with methanol, then followed by acylation of the hydroxyl group in methyl MA with pentafluoropropionic anhydride in the absence of a catalyst. These derivatization steps cause no enantiomeric inversion. The derivatized enantiomers are extracted and quantified by gas chromatography. A BETA DEX 225 capillary column allows the separation of (R)-MA and (S)-MA as pentafluoropropionyl methyl esters with good resolution and precision. The overall method was used to determine both enantiomers in urine samples.     

Mechanism of preferential enrichment,an unusual enantiomeric resolution phenomenon caused by polymorphic transition during crystallization of mixed crystals composed of two enantiomers

The mechanism of Preferential Enrichment, an unusual enantiomeric resolution phenomenon observed upon recrystallization of a series of racemic crystals which are classified as a racemic mixed crystal with fairly ordered arrangement of the two enantiomers, has been studied. On the basis of the existence of polymorphs and the occurrence of the resulting polymorphic transition during crystallization from solution, the mechanism has been accounted for in terms of (1) a preferential homochiral molecular association to form one-dimensional chain structures in the supersaturated solution of the racemate or nonracemic sample with a low ee value, (2) a kinetic formation of a metastable crystalline phase retaining the homochiral chain structures in a process of nucleation, (3) a polymorphic transition from the metastable phase to a stable one followed by enantioselective liberation of the excess R (or S) enantiomers from the transformed crystal into solution at the beginning of crystal growth to result in a slight enrichment (up to 10% ee) of the opposite S (or R) enantiomer in the deposited crystals, together with an enantiomeric enrichment of the R (or S) enantiomer in the mother liquor, and (4) a chiral discrimination by the once formed S (or R)-rich stable crystalline phase in a process of the subsequent crystal growth, leading to a considerable enantiomeric enrichment of the R (or S) enantiomer up to 100% ee in the mother liquor. The processes (3) and (4) are considered to be directly responsible for an enrichment of one enantiomer in the mother liquor. The association mode of the two enantiomers in solution has been investigated by means of (i) the solubility measurement and (ii) the number-averaged molecular weight measurement in solution by vapor pressure osmometry, together with (iii) the molecular dynamics simulation of oligomer models. The polymorphic transition during crystallization has been observed visually and by means of the in situ FTIR technique and DSC measurement. Both metastable and stable crystals have been obtained, and their crystal structures have been elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis of their single crystals.     

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.     

Development and validation of a capillary electrophoresis assay for the determination of the stereoisomeric purity of chloroquine enantiomers

A stereoselective CE assay for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of (R)-(-)-chloroquine and (S)-(+)-chloroquine was developed and validated. The separations were performed in a 50.2/40 cm uncoated fused silica capillary at 20°C using a 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 2.5, containing 30 mg/mL sulfobutylether(VII)-β-cyclodextrin as background electrolyte operated at an applied voltage of -25 kV and 20°C. The detection wavelength was 225 nm. Carbamazepine was used as internal standard. The assay was validated in the range of 0.05-1.0% for the respective minor chloroquine enantiomer based on a concentration of 3 mg/mL of the major enantiomer, either (R)-(-)-chloroquine or (S)-(+)-chloroquine. The method was applied to analyze the stereoisomeric purity of synthetic samples of the chloroquine enantiomers.     

Effect of temperature on enantiomer separation of oxzepam and lorazepam by high-performance liquid chromatography on a beta-cyclodextrin derivatized bonded chiral stationary phase

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) derivatized as chiral stationary phase is used to directly separate oxazepam (Oxa) and lorazepam (Lor) enantiomers. The effect of temperature on the direct HPLC separation of Oxa and Lor enantiomers is studied for the commercially available beta-CD derivatized bonded chiral stationary phase. Chromatographic peak coalescence, appearing as a plateau between the resolved peaks, is observed at column temperatures of above 13 degrees C. Peak coalescence on the beta-CD derivatized bonded column is attributable to racemization of the Oxa enantiomer. By reducing the column temperature to 13 degrees C, the enantiomeric composition of Oxa and Lor could be determined on the chiral column. This method is expected to be useful for the resolution of 3-hydroxybenzodiazepines. At the same time, the separation mechanism is studied by calculating the thermodynamic parameters. The results reveal that the separation of Oxa and Lor enantiomer is a case of enthalpy-controlled separation, inclusion mechanism does not control the separation. The interaction between Oxa and beta-CD is an additionally strong pi-pi interaction or hydrogen bonding, but that between Lor or beta-CD derivatized is a weak pi-pi interaction or hydrogen bonding.     

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.     

Semiochemicals of the Scarabaeinae VIII. Identification of active constituents of the abdominal sex-attracting secretion of the male dung beetle, Kheper bonellii, using gas chromatography with flame ionization and electroantennographic detection in parallel

Using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and electroantennographic detection in parallel (GC-FID/EAD), the active constituents of the sex attractant of male dung beetles of Kheper bonellii were located in the gas chromatogram of an extract of the secretion. These constituents were identified as propanoic acid, butanoic acid, indole, 3-methylindole (skatole) and methyl cis-cascarillate (methyl cis-2-2'-hexylcyclopropylacetate) by, inter alia, GC-MS, (1)H and (13)C NMR analysis, and synthesis. These compounds elicited EAD responses in male as well as female antennae. Racemic methyl cis-cascarillate was synthesized for comparison with the natural methyl ester. Enantioselective GC-FID/EAD using a capillary column coated with OV-1701-OH containing 10% heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-cyclodextrin showed that the natural compound co-eluted with the first-eluting enantiomer of the racemic methyl cis-cascarillate, which was the only enantiomer that elicited EAD responses in the antennae of male and female K. bonellii. The absolute configuration of this enantiomer was established by a stereoselective synthesis, which gave methyl (R,R)-cascarillate [methyl (1'R,2'R)-2-2'-hexylcyclopropylacetate] in an enantiomeric excess of 69%.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of ibuprofen in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method, using a hexane-ethyl acetate solvent system, for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of ibuprofen in human plasma is described. The method is based on the resolution of the diastereoisomeric amides formed on reaction of the ibuprofen enantiomers with S-1-(naphthen-1-yl)ethylamine using p-chlorophenoxy-acetic acid as internal standard. The application of the method for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of ibuprofen in human plasma following the repeated oral administration of the drug to two volunteers is reported. The plasma concentrations of the S-(+) enantiomer were always greater than that of the R-(-), the ratio of the areas under the enantiomer plasma concentration-time curves (S/R) being 1.8 and 1.6.     

Chiral separation of lipoxygenase metabolites utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography

An isocratic, reversed-phase HPLC assay has been developed for the separation of the enantiomers of four lipoxygenase metabolites, without the need for a derivatization step. Separation of the enantiomers was studied on a polysaccharide type chiral stationary phase column. Upon determination of suitable mobile phase composition, the assay was evaluated at various temperatures. In all cases the R enantiomer eluted before the S enantiomer. The best separations were observed at 0 degrees C.     

Chiral CE separation of dopamine-derived neurotoxins.

An enantiomeric separation of dopamine-derived neurotoxins by capillary electrophoresis has been developed. Tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ), dopamine (DA), (R/S)-1-benzyl-TIQ (BTIQ), (R/S)-6,7-dihydroxy-1-methyl-TIQ (salsolinol, Sal), and (R/S)-6,7-dihydroxy-1, 2-dimethyl-TIQ (N-methyl-salsolinol, NMSal) were studied as model compounds. The CE running buffer (50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 3.0) contained 1.5 M urea and 12 mM beta-CD as a chiral selector. During separation, the (R)-enantiomers formed more stable inclusion complexes with beta-CD, and thus had a longer migration time than their optical antipodes. It was noticed that the recovery rates of these TIQ derivatives were very poor (< 15%) during protein precipitation, a procedure widely used for cleaning up biological samples. The recovery was significantly improved by pre-mixing the sample with a surfactant (e.g., sodium hexanesulfonate or Triton X-100) to reduce the co-precipitation. The present method in combination with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) was applied to study samples obtained from in vitro incubation of two catecholamines, dopamine and epinine, with aldehydes forming neurotoxins including (S)- and (R)-NMSal enantiomers. The later is known to induce Parkinsonism in rats.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylcyclohexanone

The stereoselective acetylation of meso-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanediol by vinyl acetate in the presence of three lipases gave the (1R,3S)-monoester in high enantiomeric excess (ee > or = 98%). The hydrolysis of the corresponding meso-diacetate in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase in phosphate buffer provided the opposite enantiomer. Optically active monoacetates were converted to both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylcyclohexanone, a versatile chiral building block.     

Enantioselective analysis of ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen in wastewater and environmental water samples

A highly sensitive and reliable method for the enantioselective analysis of ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen in wastewater and environmental water samples has been developed. These three pharmaceuticals are chiral molecules and the variable presence of their individual (R)- and (S)-enantiomers is of increasing interest for environmental analysis. An indirect method for enantioseparation was achieved by the derivatization of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers to amide diastereomers using (R)-1-phenylethylamine ((R)-1-PEA). After initial solid phase extraction from aqueous samples, derivatization was undertaken at room temperature in less than 5 min. Optimum recovery and clean-up of the amide diastereomers from the derivatization solution was achieved by a second solid phase extraction step. Separation and detection of the individual diastereomers was undertaken by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Excellent analyte separation and peak shapes were achieved for the derivatized (R)- and (S)-enantiomers for all three pharmaceuticals with peak resolution, R(s) is in the range of 2.87-4.02 for all diastereomer pairs. Furthermore, the calibration curves developed for the (S)-enantiomers revealed excellent linearity (r(2) ≥ 0.99) for all three compounds. Method detection limits were shown to be within the range of 0.2-3.3 ng L(-1) for individual enantiomers in ultrapure water, drinking water, surface water and a synthetic wastewater. Finally, the method was shown to perform well on a real tertiary treated wastewater sample, revealing measurable concentrations of both (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen. Isotope dilution using racemic D(3)-ibuprofen, racemic D(3)-ketoprofen and racemic D(3)-naproxen was shown to be an essential aspect of this method for accurate quantification and enantiomeric fraction (EF) determination. This approach produced excellent reproducibility for EF determination of triplicate tertiary treated wastewater samples.     

Enantioselective separation of some polyunsaturated epoxy fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography on a cellulose phenylcarbamate (Chiralcel OC) stationary phase.

cis-Epoxides of linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and the omega 3-epoxide of eicosapentaenoic acid were chromatographed on a cellulose trisphenylcarbamate (Chiralcel OC) stationary phase in the normal-phase mode. The R,S and S,R enantiomers of methyl-14(15)epoxyeicosatrienoate, methyl-9(10)epoxyoctadecadienoate and methyl-9(10)epoxyoctadecenoate could be partly resolved. The R,S enantiomer of methyl-14(15)epoxyeicosatrienoate eluted before the S,R enantiomer. [14C]14(15)Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid was isolated from an incubation of [14C]20:4n-6 with microsomes of rabbit kidney cortex and the S,R enantiomer was found to predominate (about 2:1).     

Recognition of major DNA adducts of enantiomeric cisplatin analogs by HMG box proteins and nucleotide excision repair of these adducts

We examined HMG domain protein recognition of major 1,2-GG intrastrand DNA crosslinks, formed by two bifunctional enantiomeric analogs of antitumor cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin), and removal of these crosslinks during in vitro nucleotide excision repair (NER) reactions. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays show that domains A and B of HMGB1 protein bind to (2R,3R)-diaminobutanedichloroplatinum(II)-generated crosslinks with a higher affinity than to those generated by (2S,3S)-diaminobutanedichloroplatinum(II). The crosslinks of both enantiomers are removed by NER with a similar efficiency; however, HMG1B protein significantly inhibits removal of the (2R,3R)-diaminobutaneplatinum(II) adduct, but not that of the (2S,3S) enantiomer. Thus, HMG domain proteins discriminate among different conformations of the 1,2-GG intrastrand crosslinks of the two enantiomeric analogs of cisplatin, which results in different NER of these crosslinks. This observation may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying antitumor activity of cisplatin and its analogs.     

Enantiomeric separation and discrimination of 2-hydroxy acids as O-trifluoroacetylated (S)-(+)-3-methyl-2-butyl esters by achiral dual-capillary column gas chromatography

An efficient method is described for the simultaneous enantiomeric separation of 18 different racemic 2-hydroxy acids for the determination of their absolute configurations. It involves the conversion of each enantiomer into a diastereomeric O-trifluoroacetylated (S)-(+)-3-methyl-2-butyl ester for the direct separation by achiral dual-capillary column gas chromatography with subsequent identification and determination of its chirality by retention index (I) library matching. The enantiomers of each acid were well separated with high resolution values (R > or = 1.4) on DB-5 and DB-17 columns of different polarity. When temperature-programmed I values of 2-hydroxy acid enantiomers as their diastereomeric derivatives were measured on both columns, the I values were characteristic of each enantiomer. Simple I matching with the reference values was thus useful in cross-checking each acid enantiomer for the identification and chiral discrimination. When applied to urine samples, the present method allowed positive identification of most of the spiked 2-hydroxy acids from normal urine and for endogenous (S)-lactic acid and (S)-2-hydroxybutyric acid from a clinical urine specimen.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance to study the interactions acting in the enantiomeric separation of homocysteine by capillary electrophoresis with a dual system of γ‐cyclodextrin and the chiral ionic liquid EtCholNTf2

The enantiomeric separation of 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC)‐homocysteine (Hcy) by CE was investigated using γ‐CD and the chiral ionic liquid (R)‐(1‐hydroxybutan‐2‐yl)(trimethyl)azanium‐bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imidate (also called (R)‐N,N,N‐trimethyl‐2‐aminobutanol‐bis(trifluoromethane‐sulfon)imidate) (EtCholNTf₂) as chiral selectors. Using 2 mM γ‐CD and 5 mM EtCholNTf₂ in 50 mM borate buffer (pH 9), FMOC‐Hcy enantiomers were separated with a resolution value of 3.8. A reversal in the enantiomer migration order in comparison with the single use of γ‐CD in the separation buffer was obtained. Then, NMR experiments were carried out to elucidate the interactions taking place in the enantiomeric separation of FMOC‐Hcy. NMR analyses highlighted the formation of an inclusion complex since the hydrophobic group of FMOC‐Hcy was inserted into the γ‐CD cavity. Moreover, interactions between EtCholNTf₂ and γ‐CD were also observed, suggesting that the chiral ionic liquid would also enter the cavity of the γ‐CD.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of carprofen by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with a chiral lanthanide-shift reagent

The enantiomeric composition of carprofen has been determined in a rapid and reliable manner by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with a chiral lanthanide-shift chelate. Carprofen was converted into a mixture of enantiomeric methyl ester derivatives which were then complexed with tris[3-(heptafluoropropylhydroxymethylene)-(+)-camphorato]europium(III) in CDCl(3). The concentration of substrate in the test sample was 0.15M and the chiral-shift reagent:substrate molar ratio was 0.453. Determination of the enantiomers was based on the relative intensities of the signals for the alpha-methyl protons. The mean recovery +/-SD for six determinations of S(+)-carprofen from synthetic enantiomeric mixtures was 99.3 +/- 1.7%.     

Total synthesis and structural elucidation of (-)-maurenone

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of (2S,3S)-2,3-dihydro-6-[(1'S, 2'R)-2-hydroxy-1-methylbutyl]-3,5-dimethyl-2-[(1'S)-1-methylpropyl]-4H-pyran-4-one (3), the (-)enantiomer of the marine polypropionate, maurenone, was achieved in nine linear steps (13% overall yield) from (R)-2-benzylpentan-3-one ((R)-14) and (R)-2-benzoyloxypentan-3-one ((R)-15). Key fragments were synthesized using highly diastereoselective syn and anti boron aldol reactions and were coupled using a lithium-mediated aldol reaction. Trifluoroacetic acid-promoted cyclization/dehydration was then used to install the gamma-dihydropyrone ring. Eight isomers of one enantiomeric series were synthesized by coupling two ketones with each of four aldehydes. Comparison of the 13C NMR data for the eight isomers with that reported for maurenone established the relative stereochemistry of the natural product.     

Enantioseparation of phenothiazines in cyclodextrin-modified capillary zone electrophoresis: reversal of migration order

Enantioseparations of phenothiazines with gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) as a chiral selector were investigated using citrate and phosphate buffer electrolytes at pH 3.0. Reversal of the enantiomer migration order of promethazine, ethopropazine, and trimeprazine was observed by varying gamma-CD concentration in the range of 5-9 mM, 2.5-4.5 mM and 1.5-2.8 mM, respectively, using 100 mM citrate buffer at pH 3.0. As in the case of beta-CD, the (+)-enantiomers of phenothiazines possess greater binding strength to gamma-CD than the (-)-enantiomers. The evaluation of the binding constants and limiting mobility of the complexes formed between the enantiomers of phenothiazines and gamma-CD reveals that the binding strength of phenothiazines to gamma-CD and the differences in the binding constants and limiting mobility of the complexes are responsible for the enantiomer migration reversal. Both the binding constants and limiting mobility of the complexes between the (+)-enantiomers of phenothiazine and gamma-CD are greater than those of the corresponding (-)-enantiomers in a citrate buffer, while the binding constants of the complexes primarily determined the migration order of the enantiomers in a phosphate buffer. Compared with the results obtained using a phosphate buffer, we may conclude that citrate buffer which involves competitive complexation with chiral selector plays a significant role in the enantiomer migration reversal.