Determination of α-aminonitriles, α-amino acid amides and α-amino acids by means of HPLC, post-column reaction and fluorescence detection

Abstract

An HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous assay of intermediate (α-aminonitrile and α-amino acid amide) and end products (α-amino acid) in process streams of α-amino acid synthesis. Applications are given for Ala, Val and Leu. α-Aminonitriles were stable in a phosphate buffer pH 3, which was subsequently used for sample handling and chromatography. The α-aminonitrile, the corresponding acid amide and α-amino acid were separated using a buffered ion-pair mobile phase on an RP column and were detected fluorimetrically after post-column reaction with fluorescamine. Linearity and precision of the method are given.