Online high‐pH reversed‐phase liquid chromatography × low‐pH reversed‐phase liquid chromatography tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry combined with pulse elution gradient in the first dimension for the analysis of alkaloids in Macleaya cordata (willd.) R. Br

An online high‐pH reversed‐phase liquid chromatography× low‐pH reversed‐phase liquid chromatography tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry combined with pulse elution gradient in the first dimension was constructed to separate and identify alkaloids from Macleaya cordata (willd.) R. Br. The modulation was performed by using a dual second dimensional columns interface combined with a make‐up dilution pump, which is responsible for dilution and neutralization of the first dimensional effluent, and the dual second dimensional columns integrated the trapping and the separation function to reduce the second dimension system dead volume. Taking advantage of the dissociable characteristics of alkaloids, mobile phases with different pH values were applied in the first dimension (pH 9.0) and the second dimension (pH 2.6) to improve the orthogonality of two‐dimension separation. Besides, the pulse elution gradient in first dimension and second dimensional gradient were carefully optimized and much better separation was achieved compared to the separation with the traditional two‐dimensional liquid chromatography approach. Finally, mass measurement was performed for alkaloids in M. cordata (willd.) R. Br. by coupling proposed two‐dimensional liquid chromatography system with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, and 39 alkaloids were successfully identified by comparing the obtained result with the former reported results.     

Synthesis and chromatographic evaluation of phenyl/tetrazole bonded stationary phase based on thiol‐epoxy ring opening reaction

A silica‐based reversed‐phase stationary phase bonding with phenyl and tetrazole groups was synthesized by thiol‐epoxy ring opening reaction. The bonded groups could not only provide hydrophobic interaction, but also π–π, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and so on. The results of characterization with elemental analysis and solid‐state ¹³C cross‐polarization magic‐angle‐spinning NMR spectroscopy indicated the successful preparation of phenyl/tetrazole sulfoether bonded stationary phase. Chromatographic evaluation revealed that phenyl/tetrazole sulfoether bonded stationary phase behaved well under the reversed‐phase mode. The column parameters (H, S*, A, B, and C) showed different selectivity compared with some typical commercial columns, and it was validated by the separation of estrogen, ginsenoside, alkaloid samples. Based on the different selectivity between phenyl/tetrazole sulfoether bonded stationary phase and C18 columns, phenyl/tetrazole sulfoether bonded stationary phase also showed potential to construct a 2D reversed‐phase liquid chromatography system with C18. And it was verified by the separation of corydalis tuber and curcuma zedoary extracts.     

HPLC enantioseparation of β2‐homoamino acids using crown ether‐based chiral stationary phase

RP high‐performance liquid chromatographic methods were developed for the enantioseparation of eleven unusual β²‐homoamino acids. The underivatized analytes were separated on a chiral stationary phase containing (+)‐(18‐crown‐6)‐2,3,11,12‐tetracarboxylic acid as chiral selector. The effects of organic (alcoholic) and acidic modifiers, the mobile phase composition and temperature on the separation were investigated. The structures of the substituents in the α‐position of the analytes substantially influenced the retention and resolution. The elution sequence was determined in some cases: the S enantiomers eluted before the R enantiomers.     

Green high‐performance liquid chromatography enantioseparation of lansoprazole using a cellulose‐based chiral stationary phase under ethanol/water mode

A simple and environmentally friendly reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the separation of the enantiomers of lansoprazole has been developed. The chromatographic resolution was carried out on the cellulose‐based Chiralpak IC‐3 chiral stationary phase using a green and low‐toxicity ethanol‐aqueous mode. The effects of water content in the mobile phase and column temperature on the retention of the enantiomers of lansoprazole and its chiral and achiral related substances have been carefully investigated. A mixed‐mode hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and reversed‐phase retention mechanism operating on the IC‐3 chiral stationary phase allowed us to achieve simultaneous enantioselective and chemoselective separations in water‐rich conditions. The enantiomers of lansoprazole were baseline resolved with a mobile phase consisting of ethanol/water 50:50 without any interference coming from chiral and achiral impurities within 10 min.     

Preparative isolation of flavonoid glycosides from Sphaerophysa salsula using hydrophilic interaction solid‐phase extraction coupled with two‐dimensional preparative liquid chromatography

An offline preparative two‐dimensional reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with hydrophilic interaction solid‐phase extraction method was developed for the preparative isolation of flavonoid glycosides from a crude sample of Sphaerophysa salsula . First, the non‐flavonoids were removed using an XAmide solid‐phase extraction cartridge. Based on the separation results of three different chromatographic stationary phases, the first‐dimensional preparation was performed on an XAqua C18 prep column, and 15 fractions were obtained from the 5.2 g target sample. Then, three representative fractions were selected for additional purification on an XAmide preparative column to further isolate the flavonoid glycosides. In all, eight flavonoid glycosides were isolated in purities over 97%. The results demonstrated that the two‐dimensional liquid chromatography method used in this study was effective for the preparative separation of flavonoid glycosides from Sphaerophysa salsula . Additionally, this method showed great potential for the separation of flavonoid glycosides from other plant materials.     

Preparation of a monolithic column with a mixed‐mode stationary phase of reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction for capillary liquid chromatography

A monolithic capillary column with a mixed‐mode stationary phase of reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction chromatography was prepared for capillary liquid chromatography. The monolith was created by an in‐situ copolymerization of a homemade monomer N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐acryloxyundecyl‐N‐(3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium betaine and a crosslinker pentaerythritol triacrylate in a binary porogen agent consisting of methanol and isopropanol. The functional monomer was designed to have a highly polar zwitterionic sulfobetaine terminal group and a hydrophobic long alkyl chain moiety. The composition of the polymerization solution was systematically optimized to permit the best column performance. The columns were evaluated by using acidic, basic, polar neutral analytes, as well as a set of alkylbenzenes and Triton X100. Very good separations were obtained on the column with the mixed‐mode stationary phase. It was demonstrated that the mixed‐mode stationary phase displayed typic dual retention mechanisms of reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography depending on the content of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. The method for column preparation is reproducible.     

Three‐phase hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction based on a magnetofluid for the analysis of aristolochic acids in plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A new and fast sample preparation technique based on three‐phase hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction with a magnetofluid was developed and successfully used to quantify the aristolochic acid I (AA‐I) and AA‐II in plasma after oral administration of Caulis akebiae extract. Analysis was accomplished by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Parameters that affect the hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction processes, such as the solvent type, pH of donor and acceptor phases, content of magnetofluid, salt content, stirring speed, hollow fiber length, extraction temperature, and extraction time, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors for AA‐I and AA‐II were >627. The calibration curve for two AAs was linear in the range of 0.1–10 ng/mL with the correlation coefficients >0.9997. The intraday and interday precision was <5.71% and the LODs were 11 pg/mL for AA‐I and 13 pg/mL for AA‐II (S/N = 3). The separation and determination of the two AAs in plasma after oral administration of C. akebiae extract were completed by the validated method.     

Enantiomeric separation of oxybutynin by recycling high‐speed counter‐current chromatography with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector

Recycling high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was successfully applied to the preparative separation of oxybutynin enantiomers. The two‐phase solvent system consisted of n‐hexane, methyl tert‐butyl ether, and 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer solution (pH = 5.0) with the volume ratio of 6:4:10. Hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin was employed as the chiral selector. The influence of factors on the chiral separation process, including the concentration of chiral selector, the equilibrium temperature, the pH value of the aqueous phase were investigated. Under optimum separation conditions, 15 mg of oxybutynin racemate was separated with the purities of both the enantiomers over 96.5% determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Recovery for the target compounds reached 80–82% yielding 6.00 mg of (R)‐oxybutynin and 6.15 mg of (S)‐oxybutynin. Technical details for recycling elution mode were discussed.     

Purification of lignans from Fructus Arctii using off‐line two‐dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography

As a common traditional Chinese medicine, Fructus Arctii has important clinical medical values. Its main components are lignans, which are difficult to separate and analyze because of the complex composition, similar chemical structures, and close properties. In this study, an off‐line two‐dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method, as well as an effective sample pretreatment method based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography material, was developed to enrich the minor lignan fractions and obtain high‐purity compounds. In total, 12 high‐purity compounds were isolated from Fructus Arctii . Their structures were identified by using high‐resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which showed that all were lignans and that most of them were isomers. The results demonstrated the effective off‐line two‐dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method for the purification of lignans from Fructus Arctii . The separation protocol established here will be beneficial for the separation of complex samples from other kinds of natural products.     

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.     

Fast reversed‐phase liquid chromatographic separation of proteins by flow‐through poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres

With the explosive growth of the bioscience and biopharmaceuticals, the demand for high efficient analysis and separation of proteins is urgent. High‐performance liquid chromatography is an appropriate technology for this purpose, and the stationary phase is the kernel to the separation efficiency. In this study, flow‐through poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres characteristic of the binary pores, i.e. flow‐through pores and mesopores, were synthesized; this special porous structure would benefit the convective mass transfer while guarantee the high specific surface area. Owing to the hydrophobic nature, poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres were suitable as the reversed‐phase stationary phase for separation of proteins. For the high permeability of the poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres packed column, fast separation of the studied six proteins in ～2 min was achieved. The recoveries of studied proteins were acceptable in the range of 79.0–99.4%. The proposed column had good pH stability of 1–13 and repeatability. Moreover, the column was applied for egg white fast separation, further demonstrating its applicability for complex bio‐sample separation. The flow‐through poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres were promising for fast separation of large molecules.     

Natural terpene derivatives as new structural task‐specific ionic liquids to enhance the enantiorecognition of acidic enantiomers on teicoplanin‐based stationary phase by high‐performance liquid chromatography

We present the specific cooperative effect of a semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin and chiral ionic liquids containing the (1R ,2S ,5R )‐(–)‐menthol moiety on the chiral recognition of enantiomers of mandelic acid, vanilmandelic acid, and phenyllactic acid. Experiments were performed chromatographically on an Astec Chirobiotic T chiral stationary phase applying the mobile phase with the addition of the chiral ionic liquids. The stereoselective binding of enantiomers to teicoplanin in presence of new chiral ionic liquids were evaluated applying thermodynamic measurements and the docking simulations. Both the experimental and theoretical methods revealed that the chiral recognition of enantiomers in the presence of new chiral ionic liquids was enthalpy driven. The changes of the teicoplanin conformation occurring upon binding of the chiral ionic liquids are responsible for the differences in the standard changes in Gibbs energy (ΔG ⁰) values obtained for complexes formed by the R and S enantiomers and teicoplanin. Docking simulations revealed the steric adjustment between the chiral ionic liquids cyclohexane ring (chair conformation) and the β‐d ‐glucosamine ring of teicoplanin and additionally hydrophobic interactions between the decanoic aliphatic chain of teicoplanin and the alkyl group of the tested salts. The obtained terpene derivatives can be considered as “structural task‐specific ionic liquids” responsible for enhancing the chiral resolution in synergistic systems with two chiral selectors.     

Influence of photoinduced isomerization on the chiral separation of novel liquid crystalline materials with a diazene moiety

The influence of photoinduced isomerization on the enantiomeric separation of two newly synthesized liquid crystalline materials, liquid crystals 1 and 2, was studied by high‐performance liquid chromatography on a chiral stationary phase Chiralpack AD‐3. Both materials have one chiral center and one diazene moiety. The compounds were separated into their E and Z isomeric forms. The conditions and time scale of the ultraviolet‐induced E to Z transition were briefly evaluated. Under the optimized conditions, we were able to baseline separate the S and R enantiomers of both the studied materials in their E isomeric form. The chiral separation of liquid crystal 2 after ultraviolet irradiation was unsuccessful. In contrast, the chiral separation of liquid crystal 1 possessing a similar structure to liquid crystal 2 provided baseline separation in its Z isomeric form as well. Previously, we have shown the influence of photoinduced isomerization and its utilization in the enantioseparation on relatively simple molecules. Here, we demonstrate that (1) much more complex compounds can also be successfully separated despite the bulkiness of the achiral part of the structure and (2) photoinduced isomerization even for such complex molecules still strongly influences their chromatographic properties.     

Enantiomeric separation of 2‐arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs by HPLC with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral mobile phase additive

The enantio‐separations of eight 2‐arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (2‐APA NSAIDs) were established using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) as chiral mobile phase additive for studying the stereoselective skin permeation of suprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, indoprofen, fenoprofen, furbiprofen, ibuprofen and carprofen. The effects of the mobile phase composition, concentration of HP‐β‐CD and column temperature on retention and enantioselective separation were investigated. With 2‐APA NSAIDs as acidic analytes, the retention times and resolutions of the enantiomers were strongly related to the pH of the mobile phase. In addition, both the concentration of HP‐β‐CD and temperature had a great effect on retention time, but only a slight or almost no effect on resolutions of the analytes. Enantioseparations were achieved on a Shimpack CLC‐ODS (150 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) column. The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol and phosphate buffer (pH 4.0–5.5, 20 mM) containing 25 mM HP‐β‐CD. This method was flexible, simple and economically advantageous over the use of chiral stationary phase, and was successfully applied to the enantioselective determination of the racemic 2‐APA NSAIDs in an enantioselective skin permeation study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography: A promising alternative to reversed‐phase liquid chromatography systems for the purification of small protonated bases

The overloaded band profiles of the protonated species of propranolol and amitriptyline were recorded under acidic conditions on four classes of stationary phases including a conventional silica/organic hybrid material in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography mode (BEH‐C₁₈), an electrostatic repulsion reversed‐phase liquid chromatography C₁₈ column (BEH‐C₁₈+), a poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) monolithic column, and a hydrophilic interaction chromatography stationary phase (underivatized BEH). The same amounts of protonated bases per unit volume of stationary phase were injected in each column (16, 47, and 141 μg/cm³). The performance of the propranolol/amitriptyline purification was assessed on the basis of the asymmetry of the recorded band profiles and on the selectivity factor achieved. The results show that the separation performed under reversed‐phase liquid chromatography like conditions (with BEH‐C₁₈, BEH‐C₁₈+, and polymer monolith materials) provide the largest selectivity factors due to the difference in the hydrophobic character of the two compounds. However, they also provide the most distorted overloaded band profiles due to a too small loading capacity. Remarkably, symmetric band profiles were observed with the hydrophilic interaction chromatography column. The larger loading capacity of the hydrophilic interaction chromatography column is due to the accumulation of the protonated bases into the diffuse water layer formed at the surface of the polar adsorbent. This work encourages purifying ionizable compounds on hydrophilic interaction chromatography columns rather than on reversed‐phase liquid chromatography columns.     

Chromatographic behavior of small organic compounds in low‐temperature high‐performance liquid chromatography using liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase

Low‐temperature high‐performance liquid chromatography, in which a loop injector, column, and detection cell were refrigerated at –35ºC, using liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase was developed. Small organic compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, alkylbenzenes, and quinones) were separated by low‐temperature high‐performance liquid chromatography at temperatures from –35 to –5ºC. The combination of liquid carbon dioxide mobile phase with an octadecyl‐silica (C₁₈) column provided reversed phase mode separation, and a bare silica‐gel column resulted in normal phase mode separation. In both the cases, nonlinear behavior at approximately –15ºC was found in the relationship between the temperature and the retention factors of the analytes (van't Hoff plots). In contrast to general trends in high‐performance liquid chromatography, the decrease in temperature enhanced the separation efficiency of both the columns.     

Determination of Cyanuric Acid in Milk Powder and Swimming Pool Water by Ion‐pair Reversed‐phase Liquid Chromatography

An ion‐pair reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic method, using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as ion‐pair reagent, has been developed for the analysis of cyanuric acid (CA) in milk powder and swimming pool water. It was found that the effect of the concentrations of ion‐pair reagent on the retention of cyanuric acid was different for standard solution and different real samples. The separation was carried out on a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column with 85:15 (V/V) water‐acetonitrile (ACN) containing different concentration of TBAB as mobile phase for different samples. The linear range of the calibration curve for CA was 0.1–100 mg·L^?1. The detection limits calculated at S/N=3 was 0.11 mg·L^?1 for the analysis of milk powder and 0.31 mg·L^?1 for the analysis of swimming pool water, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of CA in milk powder and swimming pool water.     

High‐performance liquid chromatographic and subcritical fluid chromatographic separation of α‐arylated ß‐carboline,N‐alkylated tetrahydroisoquinolines and their bioisosteres on polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phases

New, pharmacologically interesting chiral amino compounds, namely, stereoisomers of α‐hydroxynaphthyl‐ß‐carboline, benz[d]azepine and benz[c]azepine analogs as well as N‐α‐hydroxynaphthylbenzyl‐substituted isoquinolines were enantioseparated by high‐performance liquid chromatographic and subcritical fluid chromatographic methods on polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phases. Separation of the stereoisomers was optimized in both subcritical fluid chromatography and normal phase liquid chromatographic modes by investigating the effects of the composition of the bulk solvent, temperature, and the structures of the analytes and selectors. Both normal phase liquid chromatography and subcritical fluid chromatography exhibited satisfactory performance, albeit with somewhat different effectiveness in the separation of the stereoisomers studied. The optimized methods offer the possibility to apply preparative‐scale separations thereby enabling further pharmacological investigations of the enantiomers.     

Dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid modified silica as a novel reversed‐phase/anion‐exchange mixed‐mode stationary phase for high‐performance liquid chromatography

A dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid modified silica stationary phase was prepared and evaluated by reversed‐phase/anion‐exchange mixed‐mode chromatography. Model compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and anilines) were separated well on the column by reversed‐phase chromatography; inorganic anions (bromate, bromide, nitrate, iodide, and thiocyanate), and organic anions (p‐aminobenzoic acid, p‐anilinesulfonic acid, sodium benzoate, pathalic acid, and salicylic acid) were also separated individually by anion‐exchange chromatography. Based on the multiple sites of the stationary phase, the column could separate 14 solutes containing the above series of analytes in one run. The dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid modified silica can interact with hydrophobic analytes by the hydrophobic C₆ chain; it can enhance selectivity to aromatic compounds by imidazolium groups; and it also provided anion‐exchange and electrostatic interactions with ionic solutes. Compared with a monocationic ionic liquid functionalized stationary phase, the new stationary phase represented enhanced selectivity owing to more interaction sites.