Enantioseparation of (RS)-Bupropion and determination of configuration

Racemate of (RS)-Bupropion (Bup) has been separated by derivatization approach and thin layer chromatography (TLC). It was extracted from commercially available tablets, purified, and characterized. A new chiral derivatization reagent (CDR) was synthesized by introducing L-leucine amide and butoxy group in cyanuric chloride (CC) moiety. Derivatization reaction was carried out using a two-fold molar excess of CDR under microwave irradiation (MWI). The diastereomeric pair was separated by TLC and the same were recovered by the preparative method; these were purified and characterized. Absolute configuration of the Bup moiety in the diastereomeric derivatives was confirmed by recording their ¹HNMR spectra and thus elution order was also established.