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.