Capillary gas chromatography separation of pyrethroic acid methyl esters using four acylated cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral stationary phases

Summary Four cyclodextrin derivatives (CDs) were synthesized by substituting 3-OH of 2,6-di-O-pentyl-β-cyclodextrin with four different chain lengths of acyl groups (butyryl, valeryl, heptanoyl, octanoyl). The chromatographic properties of the four CD derivatives as stationary phases of capillary gas chromatography (CGC) were investigated. These CDs exhibit a wide range of application. Not only five pairs of enantiomers of pyrethroic acid methyl esters were separated on the four CDs, but also some other racemic compounds. Among the four CDs, 2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-butyryl-β-CD possesses better enantiomer separation abilities to the studied enantiomers of pyrethroic acid methyl esters than the other studied CDs. The extension of chain length of the acyl groups in 3-position of CDs cannot improve the enantiomer separation abilities of the CD derivatives.