Thin layer chromatographic resolution of some 2-arylpropionic acid enantiomers using L-(-)-serine, L-(-)-threonine and a mixture of L-(-)-serine and L-(-)-threonine-impregnated silica gel as stationary phases

Direct resolution and quantitative analysis of flurbiprofen enantiomers using microcrystalline cellulose triacetate plates: applications to the enantiomeric purity control and optical isomer determination in widely consumed drugs

Flurbiprofen enantiomers have very different pharmacological properties, since the (S)-(+) form has a much higher anti-inflammatory activity than the (R)-(-) isomer, the latter being responsible for very undesirable side effects, such as gastrointestinal irritation. Based on the different biological properties of flurbiprofen enantiomers, the development of chiral chromatographic methods for the control of the enantiomeric purity is a very important topic. In this study the separation of flurbiprofen enantiomers was achieved using for the first time noncommercial MCTA layers with polyvinyl alcohol as binder, which gives to these plates a mechanical stability equivalent to that of marketed ones. Baseline resolution (α = 1.31; RS = 2.0) was obtained with ethanol-acetic acid solution (pH 3.0 ± 0.1; 60:40, v/v) as eluent and a migration distance of about 14.5 cm. Under these experimental conditions, the thin-layer chromatography determination of the enantiomeric purity of the pharmacologically active (S)-(+)-flurbiprofen in the presence of 1% of the undesired (R)-(-) form was demonstrated. Moreover, the quantitative analysis of flurbiprofen enantiomers was achieved, obtaining quantification limits and detection limits of 50 and 25 ng of each enantiomer applied to the plate, respectively. The method was succesfully applied to the enantiomer determination in widely consumed drugs, obtaining results consistent with the flurbiprofen content declared in the drug facts.

Amino acids as chiral selectors in enantioresolution by liquid chromatography

Amino acids are unique in terms of their structural features and multidimensional uses. With their simple structures and the ready availability of both enantiomers, amino acids not only serve as a chiral pool for synthesis but also provide an inexpensive pool for resolution studies. There has been no attempt to review the application of amino acids as chiral selectors for chromatographic enantioresolution of pharmaceuticals and other compounds. The present paper deals with application of l-amino acids and complexes of l-amino acids with a metal ion, particularly Cu(II), as an impregnating reagent in thin-layer chromatography or as a chiral ligand exchange reagent or a chiral mobile phase additive in both thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Enantiomeric resolution of β-blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, amino acids (and their derivatives) and certain other compounds is discussed.

Resolution of (�)-ibuprofen using (?)-brucine as a chiral selector by thin layer chromatography

The enantiomeric resolution of (+/-)-ibuprofen into its enantiomers was achieved by TLC on silica gel plate using optically pure (-)-brucine as a chiral selector and acetonitrile-methanol (5:1, v/v) as the solvent system. Spots were located in an iodine chamber. The detection limit was 4.9 microg. The effect of concentration of the chiral selector, temperature and pH on resolution has been studied.