Direct high-performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of apolar beta-amino acids on a quinine-derived chiral anion-exchanger stationary phase

A quinine-derived chiral anion-exchanger stationary phase was applied for the direct high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of N-protected unusual beta-amino acids, i.e. 3-aminobutanoic acid, 3-aminopentanoic acid, 3-amino-4-methylpentanoic acid, 3-amino-4,4-dimethylpentanoic acid, 3-amino-4-methylhexanoic acid, 3-amino-4-ethylhexanoic acid, 3-amino-3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid, 3-amino-3-(3-cyclohexen-1-yl)propanoic acid and 3-amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid. The readily prepared N-2,4-dinitrophenyl derivatives were well separable, with good efficiency and high resolution. The chromatographic conditions (eluent composition, pH and buffer concentration) were varied to achieve optimal separation. In some cases, the elution sequences of the enantiomers of the derivatives were determined.