Direct separation of drug enantiomers by high-performance liquid chromatography with chiral stationary phases

The development of chiral stationary phases for HPLC has resulted in renewed interest in methods for the separation of drug enantiomers. This paper provides a brief overview of some of the more recent approaches to the direct resolution of drug enantiomers by HPLC with particular emphasis on their quantification in biological fluids.     

Coupled-column liquid chromatography method with photochemically induced derivatization for the direct determination of benzoylureas in vegetables

The coupled-column (LC-LC) system, consisting of a first column packed with internal surface reversed phase (ISRP) (50 x 4.6mm ID) and a Chrompack C18 (100 x 4.6 mm ID) as second column, allowed the simultaneous determination of five benzoylurea insecticides in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) extracts of vegetable samples without any clean-up step. This system was combined with a photochemically induced fluorescence (PIF) post-column derivatization in order to provide strongly fluorescent photoproducts from the non-fluorescent benzoylureas. Limits of detection ranged from 0.21 to 0.98 microg L(-1) of pesticide (equivalent to 0.14-0.65 microg kg(-1) in vegetable samples) and limits of determination ranged from 4.0 to 10.0 microg L(-1) (equivalent to 2.7-6.7 microg kg(-1)). Linearity of the method was established between 2 and 1800 microg L(-1), depending upon the compound. Validation of the total method was performed by randomly analyzing recoveries of four vegetable samples (aubergine, cucumber, green bean, and tomato) spiked at two levels of concentration (10.0 and 33.3 microg kg(-1)). The combination of the LC-LC system with PIF detection provides a sensitive, selective, and rapid method for the determination of pesticides in vegetable samples at levels lower than the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established for these compounds by Spanish legislation.     

Avidin protein-conjugated column for direct injection analysis of drug enantiomers in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new concept in high-performance liquid chromatography supports is proposed for the direct injection analysis of drug enantiomers in plasma. The new supports are designed with disuccinimidyl suberate as a hydrophobic internal region, and avidin protein as a hydrophilic and bulky surface region. Plasma proteins are excluded by the avidin phase and are eluted immediately from the column, whereas low-molecular-mass analytes can penetrate the surface region and interact with disuccinimidyl suberate. Enantiomers interact differentially with avidin, and are thereby separated. This column was used in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis to determine ketoprofen enantiomers in plasma by direct injection. The recovery of racemic drug from plasma was almost 100%.     

Chiral separation and determination of ofloxacin enantiomers by ionic liquid-assisted ligand-exchange chromatography

A simple and accurate method for the separation and determination of ofloxacin enantiomers was developed by ionic liquid-assisted ligand-exchange high performance liquid chromatography. Both achiral and chiral ionic liquids were tested for their efficiency of ofloxacin enantiomeric separation. The effects of ligands, concentration of metal ion, organic modifier, pH of the mobile phase, and temperature were also investigated and evaluated. Optimal conditions were obtained on a conventional C(18) column, where the mobile phase consisted of methanol/water (20 : 80, v/v) (containing 4.0 mmol L(-1) amino acid ionic liquid and 3.0 mmol L(-1) copper sulfate) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL min(-1). Under this condition, the ofloxacin enantiomers could be baseline separated within 14 minutes; the proposed method was used to analyze different commercial ofloxacin medicines.     

Application and comparison of immobilized and coated amylose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phases for the enantioselective separation of beta-blockers enantiomers by liquid chromatography

A direct liquid chromatographic enantioselective separation of a set of β-blocker enantiomers on the new immobilized and conventional coated amylose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phases (Chiralpak IA and Chiralpak AD, respectively) was studied using methanol as mobile phase and ethanolamine as an organic modifier (100:0.1, v/v). The separation, retention and elution order of the enantiomers on both columns under the same conditions were compared. The effect of the immobilization of the amylose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase on silica (Chiralpak IA) on the chiral recognition ability was noted when compared to the coated phase (Chiralpak AD) which possesses a higher resolving power than the immobilized one (Chiralpak IA). A few racemates, which were not or poorly resolved on the immobilized Chiralpak IA were most efficiently resolved on the coated Chiralpak AD. However, the immobilized phase withstand solvents like dichloromethane when used as an eluent or as a dissolving agent for the analyte. The versatility of the immobilized Chiralpak IA in monitoring reactions performed in dichloromethane using direct analysis techniques without further purification, workup or removal of dichloromethane was studied on a representative example consisting of the lipase-catalyzed irreversible transesterification of a β-blocker using either vinylacetate or isopropenyl acetate as acyl donor in dichloromethane as organic solvent.     

Polyethylene glyco-bonded phases for protein separation by high-performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Summary This paper further investigates the effects of silica base pore size and the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol (PEG) ligands on the coverage of PEG-bonded phases, as well as the resolution of protein separation in high-performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HPHIC). The results demonstrate that among the PEG-bonded phases examined in this study, the bonded phase coupled PEG-1500 on LiChrospher 500 silica exhibited the best resolution in protein separation.     

Direct separation of 2-hydroxy acid enantiomers by high-performance liquid chromatography on chemically bonded chiral phases

Summary The resolution of 2-hydroxy acid enantiomers by the principle of ligand exchange chromatography on chemically modified silica gel is described. The phases were synthezised by fixing L-amino acids via 2-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane to silica gel. The highest enantioselectivity for 2-hydroxy acids was obtained by using L-hydroxyproline as fixed ligand and Cu(II) as complexing agent. A number of aromatic as well as aliphatic 2-hydroxy acids could be resolved on this sorbent. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Direct separation of amino enantiomers by high performance ligand exchange chromatography on chemically bonded chiral phases

Summary Various chiral chemically bonded stationary phases for the separation of amino acid enantiomers by high performance ligand exchange chromatography are described. The phases were synthesized by treating silica gel with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and bonding L-amino acids such as L-azetidine carboxylic acid, L-pipecolic acid or L-phenylalanine to the product. The best results were obtained with L-pipecolic acid as a fixed ligand. Nearly all common amino acid enantiomers could be separated.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Solid-phase extraction and direct high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of metoprolol enantiomers in plasma

A method is described by which underivatized metoprolol enantiomers in plasma can be quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Samples are prepared for injection using a simple solid-phase extraction procedure which is essentially 100% efficient for all analytes. The metoprolol enantiomers are resolved using a cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase and a hexane-ethanol-diethylamine mobile phase. Samples were tested for adaptability to autoinjection and found to be stable for at least 16 h after reconstitution in mobile phase. The automated method was determined to be precise and accurate for enantiomer concentrations as low as 10 ng base per ml and was successfully employed in a pharmacokinetic investigation.     

Direct separation of the enantiomers of reboxetine by liquid chromatography on different cellulose- and amylose-based chiral stationary phases

Summary Racemic reboxetine, (R,S)-2[(R,S)-α-(2-ethoxyphenoxybenzyl] morpholine methane sulfonate, is a mixture of the (R,R) and (S,S) enantiomers. Separation of the enantiomers of reboxetine by liquid chromatography has been investigated on three chiral stationary phases—cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OD), cellulose tris-(phenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OC), and amylose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralpak AD). On these stationary phases the resolution of the (R,R) and (S,S) enantiomers was highly dependent on mobile-phase composition. When Chiralcel OD and OC were used, addition of diethylamine to the mobile phase greatly improved the separation of the enantiomers. On Chiralpak AD enantio-separation was achieved without the use of additives. Solute-mobile phase-stationary phase interactions which might participate in the mechanism of enantiorecognition are discussed.     

Cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography for separation of norgestrel enantiomers

A simple method for the separation of highly hydrophobic neutral enantiomers by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chro-matography (MEKC) is presented and strongly supported by experiments. The separation depends on the ratio between the concentrations of cyclodextrin (CD) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micelles and there is an optimum value of the ratio for the separation of the enantiomers of norgestrel and 4-androstene-3,17-dione. At the optimum value of the ratio, obtained by adjusting the absolute concentrations of CD and SDS. The electrophoretic mobility difference between two enantiomers can be maintained nearly constant.     

Simulated moving bed chromatography for the separation of enantiomers

Simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography, a continuous multi-column chromatographic process, has become one of the preferred techniques for the separation of the enantiomers of a chiral compound. Several active pharmaceutical ingredients, including blockbuster drugs, are manufactured using the SMB technology. Compared to single column preparative chromatography, SMB separations achieve higher productivity and purity, while reducing the solvent consumption. The SMB technology has found applications both at small and large scales. Design methods have been developed for robust operation and scale-up, using data obtained from analytical experiments. In the last few years, rapid developments have been made in the areas of design, improved process schemes, optimization and robust control. This review addresses these developments, as well as both the fundamentals of the SMB science and technology and some practical issues concerning the operation of SMB units. Particular emphasis is placed on the consolidation of the “triangle theory”, a design tool that is used both in the academia and industry for the design of SMB processes.     

Novel chiral selectors anchored on polydimethylsiloxane as stationary phases for separation of derivatized amino acid enantiomers by capillary gas chromatography

Six chiral selectors of S-(-)-t-Leu-cyclopropylamide, S-(-)-t-Leu-cyclopentylamide, S-(-)-t-Leu-cyclohexylamide, S-(-)-t-Leu-cycloheptylamide, S-(-)-t-Leu-cyclooctylamide, S-(-)-t-Leu-cyclododecylamide have been prepared and anchored individually through amide bonding to a polydimethylsiloxane functionalized with 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester groups by way of nucleophilic displacement reaction. The resulting chiral polysiloxanes have been provided as stationary phases for the separation of amino acid enantiomers by capillary GC. Amino acids were derivatized into N(O)-trifluoroacetyl isopropyl esters. Especially, polydimethylsiloxane anchored with S-(-)-t-Leu-cyclooctylamide was found to be efficient for the separation of aspartic acid (Asp) enantiomers. The method was applied to the estimation of ages from the extent of Asp racemization in human dentines.     

柱切换技术-高效液相色谱法快速检测大鼠血浆中的普萘洛尔对映体

建立了快速检测大鼠血浆中普萘洛尔对映体浓度的柱切换-高效液相色谱法。将自制限进填料柱作为预处理柱,通过直接进样方式,使普萘洛尔对映体在预处理柱上保留,同时除去血浆中的蛋白质等大分子;再通过柱切换技术,使普萘洛尔对映体在键合型纤维素-三(3,5-二甲基苯基氨基甲酸酯)(Chiralcel OD-RH)分析柱上得到手性拆分。通过条件优化,确定切换前预处理流动相为硼酸盐缓冲液(pH 8.5)-甲醇(95:5, v/v),流速为1.0 mL/min;切换后分析流动相为异丙醇-乙醇-0.2 mmol/L硼酸盐缓冲液(pH 8.5)(30:30:40, v/v/v),流速为0.8 mL/min;切换时间为3 min;柱温为25 ℃;检测波长为293 nm。普萘洛尔两对映体在25～500 mg/L的质量浓度范围内具有良好的线性关系(r=0.9995), 3个加标水平(50、100、250 mg/L)的平均回收率为97.89%～101.56%,日内和日间精密度均小于5%。该方法简便、快速、灵敏、准确,适于血浆样本中手性药物的药代动力学研究。     

几种苯甲酰胺类抗精神病药物的手性色谱拆分及其对映体含量的测定

采用直链淀粉-三(5-氯-2-甲基苯基氨基甲酸酯)手性固定相(CSP),以0.1%二乙胺正己烷和0.1%二乙胺乙醇为流动相梯度洗脱,以舒必利、阿米舒必利和莫沙必利为目标物,利用高效液相色谱法研究了这3种苯甲酰胺类药物的手性色谱分离行为。分别考察了流动相组成、添加剂及柱温对3种药物对映体分离的影响,从热力学和结构上探讨了色谱拆分的机理。结果表明: 在优化的色谱条件下,舒必利、阿米舒必利和莫沙必利对映体的分离度Rs＞1.5;计算了3种药物对映体的色谱保留因子k和分离因子α,以及与CSP相互作用的热力学函数,其相互作用大小依次为舒必利＞阿米舒必利＞莫沙必利。已将该方法成功地应用于上述3种药物片剂和血清中其对映体的测定,方法简便、准确、可靠。     

超高效合相色谱法对6种三唑类农药对映体的拆分及其在黄瓜中的残留分析

采用超高效合相色谱法（UPC²）拆分三唑酮、三唑醇、己唑醇、戊唑醇、联苯三唑醇、腈菌唑等6种三唑类农药对映体,并测定了黄瓜中6种三唑类农药对映体的残留量。样品经乙腈均质提取,石墨化炭黑（GCB）、自制弗罗里硅土柱和QuEChERS试剂依次净化后,Acquity Trefoil AMY1手性色谱柱分离,以超临界二氧化碳-甲醇等助溶剂为流动相进行梯度洗脱,外标法定量。方法定量限（S/N>10）均为0.1 mg/kg,在黄瓜中分别添加0.1、0.2、0.5 mg/kg 3个水平的三唑类农药对映体,其回收率为65.1%~116%,相对标准偏差（n=6）为1.0%~9.6%。该方法实现了对6种三唑类农药16种对映体的拆分及其在黄瓜基质中的残留测定,可为手性农药开发、使用及相关法规的制定提供科学支撑。     

Stereoselective determination of the enantiomers of methadone in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography.

An enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantification of methadone in human and beagle plasma is described. The procedure involves extraction of methadone from alkalized plasma into hexane-isoamyl alcohol (99:1, v/v). Stereoselective separation was achieved with a silica column with covalently bound alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Chiral-AGP) without any derivatization procedure. The detection wavelength was set at 215 nm. Using an internal standard provided reliable control of the extraction procedure as well as quantification of the enantiomers of methadone. The limit of quantification was found to be 2.5 ng/ml. The method was demonstrated to be sufficiently sensitive for stereoselective pharmacokinetic studies of methadone.     

Chiral stationary phases for separation of intermedine and lycopsamine enantiomers from Symphytum uplandicum

Enantioseparation of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid isomers intermedine and lycopsamine, isolated from Symphytum uplandicum, is discussed. The separatory power of two immobilized carbohydrate‐based chiral HPLC columns, Chiralpak IA and IC, in different chromatographic conditions is compared. The study demonstrated the importance of solvent and column selection while developing such chiral HPLC separation methods. The baseline HPLC separation of the two alkaloid isomers in preparatory scale is reported for the first time. The optimized separations were achieved on a Chiralpak IA column with mobile phases of ACN/methanol (80:20) and methanol/methyl‐t‐butyl ether (90:10), both containing 0.1% diethylamine.