Separation of enantiomers of ephedrine by capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins as chiral selectors: comparative CE, NMR and high resolution MS studies

The enantiomer migration order (EMO) of ephedrine was investigated in the presence of various CDs in CE. The molecular mechanisms of chiral recognition were followed for the ephedrine complexes with native α- and β-CD and heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-sulfo)-β-CD (HDAS-β-CD) by CE, NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution MS. Minor structural differences were observed between the complexes of ephedrine with α- and β-CD although the migration order of enantiomers was opposite when these two CDs were applied as chiral selectors in CE. The EMO was also opposite between β-CD and HDAS-β-CD. Significant structural differences were observed between ephedrine complexes with the native CDs and HDAS-β-CD. The latter CD was advantageous as chiral CE selector not only due to its opposite electrophoretic mobility compared with that of the cationic chiral analyte, but also primarily due to its enhanced chiral recognition ability towards the enantiomers of ephedrine.