Enantioselective Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Research Articles

Enantioselective UHPLC Screening Combined with In Silico Modeling for Streamlined Development of Ultrafast Enantiopurity Assays.

Enantioselective chromatography has been the preferred technique for the determination of enantiomeric excess across academia and industry. Although sequential multicolumn enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography screenings are widespread, access to automated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) platforms using state-of-the-art small particle size chiral stationary phases (CSPs) is an underdeveloped area. Herein, we introduce a multicolumn UHPLC screening workflow capable of combining 14 columns (packed with sub-2 μm fully porous and sub-3 μm superficially porous particles) with nine mobile phase eluent choices. This automated setup operates under a vast selection of reversed-phase liquid chromatography, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, polar-organic mode, and polar-ionic mode conditions with minimal manual intervention and high success rate. Examples of highly efficient enantioseparations are illustrated from the integration of chiral screening conditions and computer-assisted modeling. Furthermore, we describe the nuances of in silico method development for chiral separations via second-degree polynomial regression fit using LC simulator (ACD/Labs) software. The retention models were found to be very accurate for chiral resolution of single and multicomponent mixtures of enantiomeric species across different types of CSPs, with differences between experimental and simulated retention times of less than 0.5%. Finally, we illustrate how this approach lays the foundation for a streamlined development of ultrafast enantioseparations applied to high-throughput enantiopurity analysis and its use in the second dimension of two-dimensional liquid chromatography experiments.

Unmatched Kinetic Performance in Enantioselective Supercritical Fluid Chromatography by Combining Latest Generation Whelk-O1 Chiral Stationary Phases with a Low-Dispersion in-House Modified Equipment.

This proof-of-concept work investigates the ultimate kinetic limits reachable in chiral supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with modern columns and advanced technological solutions. A commercial equipment (Waters Acquity UPC2) has been in-house modified to minimize its overall extra-column variance through a series of technical adjustments including low-volume connecting tubings, reduced-volume flow cell, an in-house made external column oven, external low-dispersion injection system, and electronic temperature controller. Compared to the original (as-shipped) configuration, the extra-column variance on the low-dispersion equipment was reduced by more than 97%, from about 85 to slightly more than 2 μL2 (measured at 2.0 mL/min). This was mainly achieved thanks to the occurrence of fully developed turbulent regime with a proper selection of capillary i.d. at significantly smaller flow rates (1.5-4 mL/min; CO2/methanol 80/20, v/v; 35 °C; back pressure regulator (BPR), 105 bar) than in entry-1 configuration. Ultrahigh efficiency columns of different geometries in-house packed with latest generation sub-2 μm UHPC-FPP-Whelk-O1 Chiral Stationary Phase (CSP) have been employed under sub- and supercritical fluid conditions. By carefully modulating the length and the internal diameter of connecting tubings in the function of column geometry, state of the art efficiencies (estimated in roughly 300 000 theoretical plates/m with reduced HETP of roughly 1.85) have been obtained on 4.6 mm i.d. chiral columns. Remarkably, for 3.0 mm × 100 mm (i.d. × length) columns, the efficiency gain on the fully modified SFC system (compared to an instrumental configuration where only the standard injector was replaced by the low-dispersion one) was greater than 90% for compounds with a retention factor of 1 and as large as 25% for retention factors of 2.5.

Enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous estimation of risperidone and its 9-hydroxyl metabolites in rat plasma.

Objective of the current work was to develop a 'green chemistry' compliant selective and sensitive supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous estimation of risperidone (RIS) and its chiral metabolites in rat plasma. Methodology & results: Agilent 1260 Infinity analytical supercritical fluid chromatography system resolved RIS and its chiral metabolites within runtime of 6min using a gradient chromatography method. Using a simple protein precipitation sample preparation followed by mass spectrometric detection achieved a sensitivity of 0.92nM (lower limit of quantification). With linearity over four log units (0.91-7500nM), the method was found to be selective, accurate, precise and robust. The method was validated and was successfully applied for simultaneous estimation of RIS and 9-hydroxyrisperidone metabolites (R & S individually) after intravenous and per oral administration to rats.

The role of chromatographic and chiroptical spectroscopic techniques and methodologies in support of drug discovery for atropisomeric drug inhibitors of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase

Atropisomers are stereoisomers resulting from hindered bond rotation. From synthesis of pure atropisomers, characterization of their interconversion thermodynamics to investigation of biological stereoselectivity, the evaluation of drug candidates subject to atropisomerism creates special challenges and can be complicated in both early drug discovery and later drug development. In this paper, we demonstrate an array of analytical techniques and systematic approaches to study the atropisomerism of drug molecules to meet these challenges. Using a case study of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor drug candidates at Bristol-Myers Squibb, we present the analytical strategies and methodologies used during drug discovery including the detection of atropisomers, the determination of their relative composition, the identification of relative chirality, the isolation of individual atropisomers, the evaluation of interconversion kinetics, and the characterization of chiral stability in the solid state and in solution. In vivo and in vitro stereo-stability and stereo-selectivity were investigated as well as the pharmacological significance of any changes in atropisomer ratios. Techniques applied in these studies include analytical and preparative enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), enantioselective high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), circular dichroism (CD), and mass spectrometry (MS). Our experience illustrates how atropisomerism can be a very complicated issue in drug discovery and why a thorough understanding of this phenomenon is necessary to provide guidance for pharmaceutical development. Analytical techniques and methodologies facilitate key decisions during the discovery of atropisomeric drug candidates by characterizing time-dependent physicochemical properties that can have significant biological implications and relevance to pharmaceutical development plans.

Pushing the speed limit in enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography.

Chromatographic enantioseparations on the order of a few seconds can be achieved by supercritical fluid chromatography using short columns packed with chiral stationary phases. The evolution of 'world record' speeds for the chromatographic separation of enantiomers has steadily dropped from an industry standard of 20-40 min just two decades ago, to a current ability to perform many enantioseparations in well under a minute. Improvements in instrument and column technologies enabled this revolution, but the ability to predict optimal separation time from an initial method development screening assay using the t(min cc) predictor greatly simplifies the development and optimization of high-speed chiral chromatographic separations. In this study, we illustrate how the use of this simple tool in combination with the workhorse technique of supercritical fluid chromatography on customized short chiral columns (1-2 cm length) allows us to achieve ultrafast enantioseparations of pharmaceutically relevant compounds on the 5-20 s scale, bringing the technique of high-throughput enantiopurity analysis out of the specialist realm and into the laboratories of most researchers.

Insights into chiral recognition mechanisms in supercritical fluid chromatography V. Effect of the nature and proportion of alcohol mobile phase modifier with amylose and cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) stationary phases

In enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with chiral stationary phases (CSP), the elution strength of carbon dioxide is usually modulated by the use of polar organic solvents, also called modifiers. Alcohols like methanol, ethanol and isopropanol are the most commonly used co-solvents. While most applications of chiral SFC are optimized through a process of varying the co-solvent nature and proportion, only a limited number of thorough investigations have been carried out to unravel the effects of the co-solvent on the enantioseparation process.In an attempt to clarify the effect of the mobile phase co-solvent on enantioselective SFC separations, a wide range of compounds (achiral and chiral) were analyzed on an amylosic (Chiralpak AD-H) and a cellulosic (Lux cellulose-1) CSP. The influence of the modifier polarity and steric hindrance must be considered thus several different alcoholic solvents were evaluated: methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and 1-butanol, with a proportion of 10% in carbon dioxide. A selected group of racemates was further analyzed with varying proportions of each alcohol ranging from 5 to 25%. Besides, because mixtures of solvents were sometimes reported to produce unexpected results, a 50:50 mixture of methanol and ethanol was also evaluated. Chemometric methods provide some insight into the enantio-separation process and help identifying the differences between the mobile phase conditions.

Insights into chiral recognition mechanism in supercritical fluid chromatography IV. Chlorinated polysaccharide stationary phases

The chiral recognition mechanism for a successful enantioseparation on polysaccharide stationary phases are still poorly understood. In this series of papers, we aim to provide some insight into the retention and separation mechanisms occurring in enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). This paper presents a thorough investigation on chlorinated polysaccharide chiral stationary phases (CSP) comprising five coated and three immobilized phases from different manufacturers. The columns are also compared to four non-chlorinated phases to unravel the most significant differences brought about by the introduction of electron-withdrawing atoms on the aromatic ligands. Chemometrics are used to (i) get an overview of all columns (cluster analysis), (ii) describe retention (modified solvation parameter model) and (iii) describe enantioseparation (discriminant analysis). Sample applications are provided to support the discussion.

Determination of (R)-timolol in (S)-timolol maleate active pharmaceutical ingredient: Validation of a new supercritical fluid chromatography method with an established normal phase liquid chromatography method

An enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method was developed and validated to meet the current European Pharmacopoeia requirements of a limit test for the determination of S-timolol maleate enantiomeric purity in timolol maleate drug substance. The developed method is presented as an alternative to the current normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) method described in the European Pharmacopoeia (Timolol Maleate Monograph). Using a 4.6mm×250mm Chiralcel OD-H (dp: 5μm) column and a mobile phase of (93:7) CO2/0.1% (v/v) TEA in MeOH delivered at 4.0mLmin−1 resolution of 2.0 was achieved within 5min, representing a 3-fold reduction in run-time and an 11-fold reduction in solvent consumption relative to the NP-HPLC method. Method robustness was examined by the variation of flow rate (±0.5mLmin−1), column temperature (±5°C) and column back-pressure (±10bar) and resolution was maintained at ≥1.9 in all cases. R-timolol was resolved from all potential impurities and the limit of detection was improved by increasing the sample concentration threefold compared to the NP-HPLC method such that the method could detect the R-timolol enantiomer at 0.5% (w/w) with respect to S-timolol maleate. Additional validation parameters demonstrated that the potential of the method to be used for routine release testing of timolol maleate raw material for drug product manufacturing in which the quantitation of R-timolol impurity in S-timolol maleate drug substance would be a requirement.

A Vibrational Circular Dichroism Approach to the Determination of the Absolute Configurations of Flavorous 5-Substituted-2(5H)-furanones

Sotolon (1) and maple furanone (2) are naturally occurring chiral furanones. These 5-substituted-2(5H)-furanones are industrially significant aroma compounds due to their characteristic organoleptic properties and extraordinarily low odor thresholds. Each enantiomer of 1 and 2 was successfully obtained by preparative enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography. The absolute configuration of 1 was confirmed as (R)-(-)-1 and (S)-(+)-1 by adopting the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) approach. The absolute configuration of 2, which has remained ambiguous since its discovery in 1957, was determined as (R)-(+)-2 and (S)-(-)-2 for the first time by the VCD technique. Surprisingly, the signs of the optical rotation of 2 are opposite of those of 1 regardless of their identical absolute configurations. This observation emphasizes the risk in absolute configurational assignments based on comparison of optical rotation signs of similar structures. Odor evaluation of the enantiomers of 2 revealed different odor intensities.

Quick development of an analytical enantioselective high performance liquid chromatography separation and preparative scale-up for the flavonoid Naringenin

The HPLC enantioselective separation of ( R/ S)-Naringenin, a chiral flavonoid found in several fruits juices and well-known for its beneficial health-related properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cancer chemopreventive, immunomodulating and antimicrobial activities, has been performed on both analytical and (semi)-preparative scale using an amylose derived Chiralpak AD chiral stationary phase (CSP). A standard screening protocol for cellulose and amylose based CSPs was firstly applied to analytical Chiralcel OD-H and Chiralpak AD-H, as well as to Lux Cellulose-1, Lux Cellulose-2 and Lux Amylose-2 in order to identify the best experimental condition for the subsequent scaling-up. Using Chiralpak AD-H and eluting with pure methanol (without acidic or basic additives) relatively short retention times, high enantioselectivity and good resolution ( α = 1.49, R s = 3.48) were observed. Therefore, these experimental conditions were properly scaled-up to (semi)-preparative scale using both a pre-packed Regispack column and a Chiralpak AD column packed in house with bulk CSP. The developed preparative method proved to be superior to previously published methods in terms of elution times, separation and resolution and is suitable for obtaining a quick access to the desired enantiomers with high enantiomeric excess and amounts sufficient for biological investigations. Future scale-up options (enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography or HPLC in the Simulated Moving Bed mode) were also evaluated. It could be shown that both methodologies have a high potential for future production of Naringenin enantiomers by enantioselective chromatography.

Insights into chiral recognition mechanisms in supercritical fluid chromatography. II. Factors contributing to enantiomer separation on tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) of amylose and cellulose stationary phases

In this second part of our work on enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), we investigate the factors participating in the chiral recognition process on tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) of amylose and cellulose chiral stationary phases (CSPs). 135 racemates with diverse structures were analysed under identical SFC conditions on both stationary phases. The possibility of identifying the differential interactions of an enantiomer pair within the chromatographic system is assessed using a modified version of the solvation parameter model and factorial discriminant analysis. It is illustrated that one relationship of intermolecular interactions is insufficient to express the enantioseparation of different groups of racemates. An innovative approach is used in unravelling the interactions taking part in the enantiorecognition process. Different intermolecular interactions participating in the enantiomeric separation are demonstrated between the two stationary phases.

Separation of maxi-K channel opening 3-substitued-4-arylquinolinone atropisomers by enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography

Many 3-substitued-4-arylquinolinones containing an ortho substituent on the aryl ring were known as a class of compounds with maxi-K opening activity. These quinolinones, which contained a stereogenic axis in their structures due to their bulky ortho substituents on the two aryl rings, exhibited atropisomerism. The rotationally hindered atropisomers could have differential biological and pharmacological activity, and it was highly desirable to separate them and test the individual atropisomers in biological assays. To explore the potential of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) to separate the atropisomers of this class of compounds, six 3-substitued-4-arylquinolinones with various hydrophilic and hydrophobic substituents in various positions were screened using three alcoholic modifiers (methanol, ethanol and 2-propanol) with four polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (Chiralpak AD-H and AS-H, Chiralcel OD-H and OJ-H). Our results showed that all six compounds studied were successfully resolved under multiple SFC conditions regardless of their structural differences and polarity. The majority of the separations were completed within 10 min. The Chiralpak AD-H column appeared to be superior to the other three chiral columns, and methanol and ethanol showed higher successful rate than 2-propanol in separating atropisomers of this class of compounds. These SFC methods were efficient and easily scalable for preparative separation. Thus, SFC was found to be the methodology of choice for resolving the atropisomers of this class of compounds.

Simulated moving columns technique for enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography

This article describes a very useful extension of an unique column switching technique called "Simulated Moving Columns" (SMC) that was previously reported for chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Zhang and McConnell, Journal of Chromatography A 2004;1028:227-238). SMC uses two or three short chiral columns connected in series, and enables the unresolved enantiomers to separate repeatedly and exclusively through each of the columns until sufficient resolution is attained. The technique is significantly enhanced through the use of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The supercritical or near critical carbon dioxide (CO(2)) used in the mobile phase of SFC possesses the properties of a liquid as well as a gas, and usually results in much sharper peaks compared to HPLC. Consequently, by combining SMC with SFC (SMC-SFC), we were able to dramatically increase the number of SMC cycles with significantly less band broadening compared to HPLC. For the first time, an enantioselective SFC separation was demonstrated by increasing the column from the actual 20 cm length to reach a half meter virtual length with remarkably enhanced efficiency. Off-column band broadening resulting from a two-column SMC system was measured, and its impact on the enantioselectivity of SMC-SFC was found to be much less than in SMC-HPLC.

Enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography using ristocetin A chiral stationary phases.

Racemic mixtures of five acidic drugs have been successfully separated by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phases (CSPs). A ristocetin A CSP has been prepared 'in-house' and effectively applied in packed capillary SFC to separate the enantiomers of dichlorprop (R(s) = 1.4), ketoprofen (R(s) = 0.9) and warfarin (R(s) = 0.9). The commercial ristocetin A CSP (Chirobiotic R) was subsequently studied in packed column SFC with similar results where the enantiomers of warfarin (R(s) = 2.2), coumachlor (R(s) = 2.5) and thalidomide (R(s) = 0.6) were separated. Interestingly, differences were observed between the two differently immobilised CSPs where the enantiomers of dichlorprop and ketoprofen, which were separated on the 'in-house' CSP, could not be separated on the commercial phase.