Chiral Derivatizing Reagents Research Articles

Reversed-phase-HPLC enantioseparation and control of enantiomeric purity of duloxetine using a new chiral reagent and recovery of enantiomers.

This study reports a rapid and low-cost LC method for control of enantiomeric purity of duloxetine. Though duloxetine, as marketed and administered, is expected to be a single (S)-enantiomer, the analysis of a few commercial branded samples by the method developed and presented here showed that they contain a relatively high percentage of (R)-enantiomer (e.g., 2.71-5.42%, which is undesirable in drug formulations). A new chiral derivatizing reagent [isatinyl-(S)-naproxen amide] was synthesized on (S)-naproxen platform. Diastereomeric derivatives were synthesized under microwave irradiation and were separated using reversed-phase-HPLC on a C18 column. A combination of acetonitrile and triethylammonium phosphate buffer (9 mM, pH 4) as the mobile phase and detection at 273 nm were found successful. The diastereomeric derivatives at preparative scale were separated using open column chromatography, and the native enantiomers were obtained and characterized. The HPLC separation method was validated for detection limit, linearity, accuracy, and precision. The limits of detection of (S,R)-diastereomer and (S,S)-diastereomer were found to be 12 and 16 pg/mL, respectively, for the 20-μL injected volume. The method so developed has a practical significance and greater societal impact in establishing the control of enantiomeric purity and in ensuring the enantiomeric purity of the drug meant for human consumption.

Gas Chromatography Multiresidue Method for Enantiomeric Fraction Determination of Psychoactive Substances in Effluents and River Surface Waters

Determination of psychoactive substances (PAS) and/or their metabolites in surface waters is crucial for environmental risk assessment, and disclosure of their enantiomeric fractions (EF) allows discrimination between consumption, direct disposal, and synthesis pathways. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an indirect method by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) based on derivatization using (R)-(−)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl) phenylacetyl chloride as chiral derivatization reagent, for enantiomeric quantification of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), norketamine, buphedrone (BPD), butylone, 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC), 3-methylmethcathinone, and quantification of 1-benzylpiperazine and 1-(4-metoxyphenyl)-piperazine. The method allowed to evaluate the occurrence, spatial distribution, and the EF of the target chiral PAS in Portuguese surface waters and in effluents from 2 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). For that, water samples were pre-concentrated by solid phase extraction using OASIS® MCX cartridges, derivatized and further analyzed by GC–MS. Both enantiomers of AMP, (R)-MDMA, (S)-MAMP, and the first eluted enantiomer of BPD (configuration not assigned) were found in surface waters, while effluent samples showed both enantiomers of MDMA, (S)-MAMP, (R)-AMP, and the first eluted enantiomer of BPD and 3,4-DMMC. According to our knowledge, this is the first multiresidue analytical method by CG–MS enrolling cathinones, amphetamines, and piperazines. The presence of illicit synthetic cathinones in Douro River estuary is here reported for the first time, along with other amphetamine derivatives. The potential of the method to monitor consumption of the target PAS was demonstrated.

Rapid chiral discrimination of oncometabolite dl-2-hydroxyglutaric acid using derivatization and field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry.

2-Hydroxyglutaric acid is a chiral metabolite whose enantiomers specifically accumulate in different diseases. An enantiomeric excess of the d-form in biological specimens reflects the existence of various pathogenic mutations in cancer patients, however, conventional methods using gas or liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis had not been used for large clinical studies because they require multiple analytical instruments and a long run time to separate the enantiomers. Here, we present a rapid separation method for dl-2-hydroxyglutaric acid using a chiral derivatizing reagent and field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry, which requires a single analytical instrument and <1 s for the separation. We compared three derivatization methods and found that a method using (S)-1-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)pyrrolidin-3-amine enables the separation. In addition, we were able to detect dl-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in standard solution at lower concentrations than that previously reported for the serum. These results show the potential of the method to be used in clinical analysis.

Research progress on chiral separation of amphetamines, ketamine, cathinones

对映异构体在自然界中普遍存在,在药物化学领域尤为突出。虽然手性药物的对映异构体之间具有相同的化学结构,但它们在药理、毒理、药代动力学、代谢等生物活性方面存在明显差异。苯丙胺类、氯胺酮、卡西酮类毒品也是如此,这3类毒品的手性分离研究在常见毒品中具有代表性。目前常用的手性分离色谱方法有气相色谱法(GC)、高效液相色谱法(HPLC)和毛细管电泳法(CE)。苯丙胺类、氯胺酮、卡西酮类毒品使用以上3种方法进行的手性分离研究具有一定共性:GC较多使用N-三氟乙酰-L-脯胺酰氯和(+)R-α-甲氧基α-三氟甲基苯乙酸两种典型的手性衍生化试剂,HPLC主要应用蛋白质类、多聚糖类和大环抗生素类3种手性固定相,CE中环糊精及其衍生物是最常用的手性选择剂。然而这3种手性分离方法存在各自的不足,GC存在手性衍生化引入杂质、反应温度高影响手性分离等问题,HPLC的应用范围比较有限,成本较高,CE没有明确的方法判断哪种物质是合适的手性选择剂。近年来,这3类毒品的手性分离研究在法医毒物学领域的应用有各自的特点,苯丙胺类毒品的手性分离研究多用于推断市场上毒品的原型及合成路线,氯胺酮的手性分离研究涉及多种生物检材,卡西酮类毒品侧重于手性分离方法的广泛适用性。该文主要遴选近10年国内外核心期刊的文献,对苯丙胺类、氯胺酮、卡西酮类毒品的手性异构体特点及色谱法的手性识别机理进行简单介绍,重点对已有研究的共性以及手性分离在法医毒物学中的应用等内容进行综述。基于以上研究,该文提出未来可以从以下3个方面进行深入研究:一是利用计算机技术建立分子模型深入探究手性识别机理;二是研发新型技术,对超临界流体法进行商用研究;三是将手性分离应用于司法实践、医药研发等实际工作领域。

Quantitative Analysis of Oncometabolite 2-Hydroxyglutarate.

Gain-of-function mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) were demonstrated to induce the production and accumulation of oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). 2HG is a potent competitor of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and can inhibit multiple α-KG-dependent dioxygenases that are critical for regulating the metabolic and epigenetic state of cells. The accumulation of 2HG contributes to elevated risk of malignant tumors. 2HG carries an asymmetric carbon atom in its carbon backbone and therefore occurs in two enantiomers, D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2HG) and L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG). Each enantiomer is produced and metabolized in independent biochemical pathway and catalyzed by different enzymes. The accurate diagnosis of 2HG-related diseases relies on determining the configuration of the two enantiomers. Quantitative methods for analysis of D-2HG and L-2HG have been well developed. These analytical strategies mainly include the use of chiral chromatography medium to facilitate chromatographic separation of enantiomers prior to spectroscopy or mass spectrometry analysis and the use of chiral derivatization reagents to convert the enantiomers to diastereomers with differential physical and chemical properties that can improve their chromatographic separation. Here, we summarize and discuss these established methods for analysis of total 2HG as well as the determination of the enantiomers of D-2HG and L-2HG.

(S)-1-(5-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrophenyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid as a derivatization reagent for ultrasensitive detection of amine enantiomers by HPLC-MS/MS and its application to the chiral metabolite analysis of (R)-1-aminoindan in saliva

(S)-1-(5-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrophenyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (Pro-PPZ) was employed as a chiral derivatization reagent (CDR) for the efficient enantioseparation and ultrasensitive mass spectrometric detection of chiral amines. Pro-PPZ was prepared from the one-step reaction of 1-(5-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl)-4-methylpiperazine (PPZ) and l-proline. Two amines and two amino acid methyl esters were selected as model chiral amines, which were easily labeled with Pro-PPZ under mild reaction conditions (35 °C for 10 min) generating Pro-PPZ-amine derivatives. The resulting diastereomers were completely separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) using an ODS column (Rs = 3.4–17.0 for amines). Ultrasensitive detection limits on femtomolar level were obtained for the tested amines using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) chromatograms at a single monitoring ion, m/z 289 (0.1–5.0 fmol for amines). The practical metabolite analysis of (R)-1-aminoindan (R-AI) in saliva samples was performed by LC–MS/MS using the Pro-PPZ derivatization method. The method was validated in terms of precision, accuracy, and linearity. Using this method, R-AI concentrations in saliva were determined after a single oral administration of the drug rasagiline to healthy male and female subjects, but no (S)-1-aminoindan (S-AI) was detected, which suggesting that R-AI was not converted into S-enantiomer in the metabolic process. R-AI concentrations in four healthy volunteers ranged from 32.85 nM to 49.45 nM, with an average value of 43.76 nM. To date, there is no LC–MS (or MS/MS) method reported for the enantioselective determination of R-AI in human saliva samples.

Simultaneous Quantitative Determination of Synthetic Cathinone Enantiomers in Urine by GC-NCI-MS/MS using Menthylchloroformate as Chiral Derivatization Reagent

Development and validation of a new analytical method for enantioseparation and quantitation of synthetic cathinones is reported using a chiral derivatization agent (CDA) and GC-MS triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode. Indirect separation of ten synthetic cathinone compounds has been achieved using a commercially available optically pure CDA called (1R)-(-)-menthylchloroformate (MCF). MCF was capable of converting synthetic cathinone enantiomers into diastereoisomers, which were later separated with good resolution on an ultra-inert 60 m achiral stationary phase column. An internal standard (IS), 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) was used for quantitation of synthetic cathinone diastereoisomers. Method validation in terms of calibration curve linearity, sensitivity in terms of limits of detections (LODs), limits of quantitation (LOQs), interday and intra-day reproducibility, and recoveries has been obtained for the ten synthetic cathinone compounds that were analyzed simultaneously as a mixture after being spiked in urine. It was found that LOD’s and LOQ’s for the ten synthetic cathinones mixture in urine were in the ranges of 0.004-3.678 ppm and 0.012-11.14 ppm respectively. The results of four synthetic cathinones (Buphedrone, 3-MethylBP,3,4-DMEC, and Butylone) derivatized with MCF were compared with the same compounds derivatized with N-trifluoroacetyl-L-prolyl chloride (L-TPC). It was found that the later was more sensitive in terms of LOD and LOQ than the former method.

Microchemical enantioseparation of betaxolol and orciprenaline by reversed phase HPLC

AbstractEnantioseparation of (RS)‐orciprenaline and (RS)‐betaxolol was achieved by synthesizing their diastereomeric derivatives with chiral derivatizing reagents prepared on a cyanuric chloride platform. There were three dichloro‐triazine derivatives with amino acid amides as chiral auxiliaries and three monochloro‐triazine derivatives with methoxy as achiral moiety and amino acid amides as chiral auxiliaries in cyanuric chloride. A total of 12 pairs of diastereomeric derivatives were synthesized under microwave irradiation and were separated using reversed phase high‐performance liquid chromatography by applying different mobile phases on a C18 column in gradient eluting mode with ultraviolet detection at 230 nm. Resolutions were compared and interpreted on the basis of structure of chiral auxiliaries. Besides, diastereomeric derivatives were separated by open column chromatography and the samples so obtained were used for confirmation of their elution order and configuration by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. In addition, lowest energy optimized structures of diastereomeric derivatives were developed using the density functional theory based Gaussian software that were interpreted to supplement the absolute configurations. The method validation was carried out for detection limit, linearity, accuracy, and precision. Limits of detection were 0.005 and 0.007 µg/mL.

Chiral Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography.

The potential of Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography to achieve enantiomeric separations is reviewed in this article. The separation principles and the most frequently employed separation strategies to achieve chiral separations by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography are described. The use of chiral micellar systems alone or combined with other micellar systems or chiral selectors, as well as of mixtures of achiral micellar systems with chiral selectors is discussed together with the effect of different additives present in the separation medium. Indirect methods based on the derivatization of analytes with chiral derivatizing reagents and the use of achiral micelles are also considered. Preconcentration techniques employed to improve sensitivity and the main approaches developed to facilitate the coupling with Mass Spectrometry are included. The most recent and relevant methodologies developed by chiral Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography and their applications in different fields are presented.

A Review on Chiral Columns/Stationary Phases for HPLC

The chiral separation of pharmaceutical molecules and their precursors is one of the important areas of application of HPLC in pharmaceutical analysis for obtaining enantiomerically pure drug. The latter procedures include the use of so-called chiral selectors to enantio-selectively recognise and isolate the enantiomer. The direct approaches, i.e. those which do not derivate the compound of interest before separation, are addressed in detail, since they are now the most common approaches. The role of stereochemistry in medicinal products is being given greater emphasis to medical practice. For physicians to make conscious choice about the use of single-enantiomered medicinal products, basic knowledge is required. For few treatments single-enantiomer formulations can provide more selectivity than a combination of enantiomers in their biological purposes, enhanced therapeutic indexes and/or better pharmacokinetics. This highlights the possible biological and pharmacological variations between the two drug enantiomers and underlines the clinical experience of individual enantiomers. Particular emphases have been put on chiral separation by HPLC on chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Chiral derivatization reagents (CDRs) are optically pure reagent on reaction with drugs forms a pair of diastereoisomers that can be separated on conventional achiral phase. In Chiral mobile phase additive (CMPA) method, the stationary phase is achiral and the chiral selector is dissolved during the mobile phase. Interaction with the analyte’s enantiomer leads to the formation of transient diastereomeric complexes that are separated by their affinity towards mobile/stationary phase. Separation mechanisms and method development for chiral molecules using these phases are discussed in this review.

Thin-layer chromatographic enantioseparation of atenolol and propranolol using (S)-naproxen as chiral selector: direct and indirect approaches

Enantiomeric separation of (RS)-atenolol, and (RS)-propranolol has been achieved by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using both direct and indirect modes. (S)-naproxen, containing a carboxylic group, was utilized as the chiral selector. For direct TLC separation, (S)-naproxen was used as a chiral additive in the stationary phase in a non-covalent mode and there was no chiral additive in the mobile phase; the native enantiomers were isolated and characterized. For the indirect approach, the diastereomeric derivatives of analytes were synthesized with (S)-naproxen (as chiral derivatizing reagent) and the derivatives were then separated on achiral plates (without chiral selector); these were then isolated and characterized. The effect of the composition of the chiral selector, pH, and temperature was studied for the optimization of successful separation conditions. The developed method was validated. The limits of detection for enantiomers of atenolol and propranolol were found to be 1.2 μg mL−1 and 1.6 μg mL−1, respectively.

Evaluation of chiral separation efficiency of a novel OTPTHE derivatization reagent: Applications to liquid-chromatographic determination of DL-serine in human plasma.

A novel chiral derivatization reagent, the N-[1-oxo-5-(triphenylphosphonium)pentyl]- (R)-1,3-thiazolidinyl-4-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester bromide salt (OTPTHE), was developed for the separation and selective detection of chiral DL-amino acids by RP-HPLC analysis. The OTPTHE reacted with DL-amino acids at 60°C maintained for 30 minutes in the presence of 100 mM borate buffer (pH 9.5). The separability of the diastereomeric derivatives was evaluated in terms of the resolution value (Rs) using 13 kinds of DL-amino acids, which were completely separated by reversed-phase chromatography using C18 column at 254 nm. The Rs of the DL-amino acids varied from 1.62 to 2.51. As for the application of the DL-amino acids, the determination of DL-Ser in the human plasma of healthy volunteers was performed based on our developed method. It was shown that linear calibrations were available with high coefficients of correlation (r2 > 0.9997). The limit of detection (S/N = 3) of the DL-Ser enantiomers was 5.0 pmol; the relative standard deviations of the intraday and interday variations were below 4.56%; the accuracy ranged between 95.40%-110.06% and 95.45%-109.80%, respectively; the mean recoveries (%) of the DL-Ser spiked in the human plasma were 99.49%-103.74%. The amounts of DL-Ser in the human plasma of healthy volunteers were determined.

Multi-residue method for enantioseparation of psychoactive substances and beta blockers by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Currently, consumption of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals has increased significantly. Many of these substances are chiral and can be available as racemates or enantiomerically pure. Determination of the enantiomeric fraction (EF) in wastewater is useful for: i) distinguishing between the consumption of prescribed and illicit drugs; ii) identification of possible local of illegal synthesis; iii) illegal discharge of sewage and estimation of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals consumption by a community (wastewater-based epidemiology). This work describes the development of an indirect method by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for enantiomeric quantification of chiral substances namely psychoactive drugs and β-blockers based on the formation of diastereomers using (R)-(−)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride ((R)-MTPA-Cl) as chiral derivatization reagent. The developed method presented linearity (R2 > 0.99) for 20 compounds, 9 diastereomer pairs and paroxetine (PAR) and sertraline (SER). Recovery ranged from 80.7 to 114.5% (RSD < 9.1%) and accuracy between 84.6 and 118% (RSD < 9.9%). The limits of detection (LOD) varied from 0.03 and 26.0 ngL−1 and limits of quantification (LOQ) from 0.15 and 104 ngL−1. Results showed the occurrence of amphetamine (AMP), illicit drugs as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (MAMP), alprenolol (ALP), norfluoxetine (NFLX), (SER), metoprolol (MET) and propranolol (PHO) at concentrations ranging from 21.7 ngL−1 (MDMA) to 622 ngL−1 (PHO). Measured concentrations were used to estimate the drug loads of the target chiral substances in a specific population. The EF was determined providing valuable information about the consumption and origin of the target drugs.

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography approach using diastereomeric derivatization and a volatile surfactant for the enantioselective separation of selenomethionine.

A MEKC methodology with UV detection was developed for the enantioselective separation of selenomethionine (SeMet). The use of (+)-1-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate (FLEC) as chiral derivatization reagent to form SeMet diastereomers enabled their subsequent separation using ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) as a volatile pseudostationary phase. The effect of APFO concentration and pH, temperature, injection volume, and derivatization conditions (time and FLEC/SeMet ratio) were evaluated in order to select the best separation conditions. A chiral resolution of 4.4 for DL-SeMet was achieved in less than 6min using 100mM APFO at pH8.5 as electrophoretic buffer. Satisfactory results were obtained in terms of linearity, precision (RSD from 3.4 to 5.1% for migration times and from 1.8 to 4.6% for corrected peak areas), accuracy, and LODs (3.1×10-6 M and 3.7×10-6 M for d and l enantiomers, respectively). The method was successfully applied to the determination of l-SeMet in food supplements.

Sensitive enantioseparation and determination of isoprenaline in human plasma and pharmaceutical formulations.

A simple, sensitive and fast RPHPLC method was developed and validated for the enantioselective determination of (RS)-isoprenaline (Ipn) in human plasma. The enantiomers were converted to diastereomeric derivatives using s-triazine (cyanuric chloride) based chiral derivatizing reagents. l-isoleucine and l-methionine were introduced as chiral auxiliary in s-triazine and two new monochloro-s-triazine reagents were synthesized. These reagents were characterized and used for synthesis of diastereomeric derivatives of (RS)-Ipn spiked in human plasma. (RS)-Ipn was isolated (purified and characterized) from a commercial pharmaceutical formulation and was used as the standard racemic sample. Structures of the two diastereomeric derivatives were optimized for lowest energy using the Gaussian 09 Rev A. 02 program and hybrid density functional B3LYP with 6-31G* basis set which showed the spatial orientation of hydrophobic groups on stereogenic centers in the diastereomeric derivatives. The results were correlated with the mechanism of separation and elution order. Limit of detection values were found to be 24.6 and 26.8 ng mL-1 for the first and second eluting diastereomeric derivatives, respectively.

Potential for Underestimation of d-Methylphenidate Bioavailability Using Chiral Derivatization/Gas Chromatography.

A tenable hypothesis is presented which explains disparities between older oral dl-MPH bioavailability data generated using chiral derivatization-gas chromatography versus more recent findings using chiral liquid chromatography. These disparities persist in current literature. The gas chromatographic methods found that the absolute bioavailability of d-MPH is 23% and that of l-MPH is 5% (i.e., 82% as the active d-isomer), while liquid chromatographic methods consistently report that approximately 99% of circulating MPH is d-MPH. Older methods used perfluoroacylated S-prolyl derivatizing agents which have a history of imprecision due to the susceptibility of the prolyl S-configuration to isomerize to the R-enantiomer. Accordingly, any R-prolyl impurity in the chiral derivatization reagent yields the (R,R,R)-MPH-prolyl diastereomer which, in being related as the opposite enantiomer of (S,S,S)-prolyl-MPH, co-elutes with l-(S,S)-MPH. This results in overestimation of the percent l-MPH at the expense of underestimating d-MPH. Unless compelling reasons exist to justify use of any chiral discriminators, less complex and less costly achiral analysis of plasma MPH appears appropriate for d-MPH quantitation since 99% exists as d-MPH. However, simultaneous plasma monitoring of d-MPH and l-MPH may be warranted when alterations in first-pass hepatic metabolism by carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) occurs. For example, (a) with transdermal dl-MPH delivery; (b) in cases of concomitant dl-MPH and a CES1 inhibitor, e.g., ethanol, which elevates l-MPH and d-MPH concentrations; (d) in forensic studies of intravenous or intranasal dl-MPH abuse; (e) were dl-MPH to be formulated as a free base sublingual product; or (f) as emerging advances in dl-MPH gene-dose effects warrant isomer correlations.

Superiority of thin-layer chromatography over high-performance liquid chromatography in enantioseparation

The scientific development in the area of enantioseparation during the last few decades has centered on the production of new chiral stationary phases (CSPs) and new chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) for use in liquid chromatography, and in particular high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) only. Both CSPs and CDRs have several limitations which, in general, are ignored. Little attention has been paid to thin-layer chromatography (TLC) despite its many advantages compared to HPLC in pharmaceutical and drug analysis and the areas of natural products chemistry and organic synthesis, particularly enantioselective synthesis in purification of the product prior to establishing enantiomeric ratio by different method(s). TLC provides a rapid, easy, aff ordable, and simple approach in all these situations. The demonstrated capability and efficiency of TLC in direct resolution of the racemate clearly establish its superiority, and the methodology should allow its application in the resolution of several other racemates, irrespective of the functional group, in a very short time along with the recovery of native enantiomers (for further use).

Selectivity evaluation of phenyl based stationary phases for the analysis of amino acid diastereomers by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

D-amino acids (AA) analysis is becoming more and more relevant for metabolomics, therefore new analytical tools need to be developed. A common approach to achieve AA enantioseparation is chiral derivatization. Among the chiral derivatization reagents, (+) or (-)-1-(9-fluorenyl) ethyl chloroformate ((+) or (-)-FLEC) has proved to be one of the most versatile. Suitable chiral selectivity for FLEC derivatives of amino acids could be obtained in reversed-phase HPLC using nonpolar stationary phases (C4, C8 and C18) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) based mobile phases. This study is meant to provide alternatives to the use of THF as organic modifier by evaluating the selectivity obtained on two phenyl based stationary phases for 19 FLEC-DL-AA pairs of diastereomers using UHPLC-MS. Several mobile phases consisting of ammonium acetate and different common organic solvents (acetonitrile (ACN), methanol (MeOH), 2-propanol (IPA)) were tested using gradient elution. Experimental design was employed for the optimization of the separation conditions. In the optimized conditions, complete chiral separation can be achieved for 18 out of 19 FLEC-DL-AAs in less than 30 min.

Analysis and Enantioseparation of Amino Acids by Liquid Chromatography.

Enantioseparation studies of proteinogenic, non-proteinogenic, and dansyl amino acids are described herein by using liquid chromatographic techniques, i.e., HPLC and TLC. A researcher who wants to perform amino acid (AA) analysis or separate enantiomers of AAs by HPLC or TLC can follow the method. Figures included represent the actual experiments.Synthesis and application of chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) based on cyanuric chloride (CC) and difluorodinitrobenzene (DFDNB) have been described for AA analysis and enantioseparation by indirect approach. The methods represent pre-column derivatization of AAs and represent a good and less expensive substitute of AA analyzer. The application of commercial "Chiralplate" and use of erythromycin and L-tartaric acid have been described as chiral selector either as impregnating reagent in the stationary phase or as an additive in the mobile phase for direct enantioseparation by TLC. Application of the homemade TLC plates has also been described; the methods are successful in obtaining the native enantiomer as well.

Simplification of FDLA Pre-Column Derivatization for LC/MS/MS Toward Separation and Detection of d,l-Amino Acids

Chiral chromatography is a sensitive technique used to separate l- and d-amino acids. Marfey’s reagent (1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-l-alaninamide, FDAA) has been used as a chiral derivatization reagent to determine amino acid stereochemistry. Replacement of alanylamide in this reagent with leucylamide resulted in the derivative 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-l-leucinamide (FDLA), which proved a superior chiral derivatization reagent for the separation of d,l-amino acids due to the improved LC/MS measurement sensitivity. However, FDLA derivatization requires alkaline conditions, achieved with the use of NaHCO3, which necessitates an additional desalting step (e.g., liquid–liquid extraction) before quantitative analysis using LC/MS/MS. To establish a simplified LC/MS/MS measurement method, solid NaHCO3 was replaced with volatile triethylamine (TEA). The 30-min derivatization using FDLA under alkaline conditions with TEA at room temperature allowed for exclusion of the desalting step from the FDLA pre-column derivatization. Furthermore, using TEA, larger peak areas and more effective detection of hydrophilic amino acids could be achieved.