Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of the enantiomers of metoprolol in serum using a chiral stationary phase

Abstract

Metoprolol, a β-adrenergic blocker, is only available as a racemic mixture for clinical use. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the optical isomers (enantiomers) in human serum is described utilizing a commercially available column with a cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase. Separation of the enantiomers is accomplished without precolumn derivatization using a mobile phase of hexane-2-propranol-diethylamine (91:8:1, v/v). The moethod can be successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies in man.