Rational optimization of the Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase using molecular dynamics simulations

Rational in silico optimization of the Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase (CSP) has been carried out based on the chiral recognition mechanism extracted from previous molecular dynamics simulations [C.F. Zhao, N.M. Cann, Anal. Chem. 80 (2008) 2426] of this CSP. Three modified CSPs have been examined. The first two are designed to increase selectivity by reducing the docking probability of the less retained analyte. The third modified selector reverses the amide bridge to introduce a structural motif found in the popular carbamate-derivatized polysaccharide CSPs [Y. Okamoto, M. Kawashima, K. Hatada, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106 (1984) 5357]. For each modified selector, an atomistic model has been obtained through extensive ab initio calculations. The effect of selector modification is then evaluated via simulations of the modified interface in the presence of target analytes. Simulation results show that the separation factors are increased for the modified CSPs but in some cases elution orders are reversed. The Whelk-O1 CSP was originally designed to separate naproxen [W.H. Pirkle, C.J. Welch, B. LAmm, J. Org. Chem. 57 (1992) 3854]. With this in mind, molecular dynamics simulations of naproxen are compared for the original, and the modified, selectors.