Template Imprinted Polymers for HPLC Separation of Racemates

Abstract

A novel approach to the separation of enantiomers using polymeric sorbents imprinted with optically active template molecules has been examined for use in HPLC. The racemate of the template molecule can be separated whereby covalent interactions are responsible for retardation in the chromatographic process. This covalent interaction governs the overall kinetics of the separation. Increasing the reaction rate of this binding reaction by optimizing the experimental conditions improves the separation considerably. The template form of the enantioraeric mixture is thus strongly retarded and separated from the non-template form. A further substantial improvement of the chromatographic pattern is obtained by and it is remarkable that the racemic resolution of mannose n this polymer is possible although the template is different. This finding offers the possibility of the racemic resolution of underivated sugar which s not possible by other methods at the present time. It gives also an insight into the separatión mechanism of template imprinted polymers. It encourages us to postulate that more than the precise shape of the cavities, the spatial arrangement of the interactive groups within the cavities plays a predominant role in the enantioselective separation mechanism of this sorbent type (13).