Separability of stereoisomers by electrokinetic chromatography in presence of a neutral selector – Fundamental aspects assessed by computer simulation

Abstract

The impact of the two essential parameters, the complexation constant and the mobility of the formed diastereomeric complex, on stereoisomer separation in presence of a neutral chiral selector was assessed by computer simulation for an electrokinetic chromatography configuration with a uniform background electrolyte and one with a cationic discontinues buffer system of isotachophoretic nature. With two enantiomers of norpseudoephedrine as model analytes, data for seven cases featuring complexation in free solution with various combinations of input values, complexation with an immobilized selector and no complexation were analyzed in a hitherto unexplored way. For the uniform buffer study, the determined differences of the effective mobilities and separation selectivities of the stereoisomers were found to be equal to those calculated with the well-known algebraic equations. For the isotachophoretic system with its Kohlrausch adjusted zones, separation is also based on differences in effective mobilities, but the mobility differences cannot be predicted with the same algebraic equation. In both techniques, chiral separations occur due to the presence of the selector and if there is inequality between the mobilities of the transient diastereomeric complexes and the mobility of the free, uncomplexed analyte. Separation of the stereoisomers is possible when complexation constants, complex mobilities or both of these parameters differ. In the isotachophoretic separation a migrating steady-state is formed in which analytes either establish consecutive zones with plateau concentrations or, if present in an insufficient amount, as a peak-like distribution that migrates within a moving steady-state boundary. Simulation data illustrate for the first time the use of a spacer compound that establishes an isotachophoretic zone between enantiomers and thereby provides complete separation of the enantiomers and the possibility of individual detection in peak-mode isotachophoresis. They demonstrate that such an approach could be employed to assess the enantiomeric purity of a chiral compound.