ENANTIOMER SEPARATION BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY ON CHIRAL STATIONARY PHASES

The analytical separation of enantiomers by capillary gas chromatograp hy on chiral stationary phases (CSPs) is reviewed. Inherent principles and methodological advances are described. Three principal CSPs tailo red for hydrogen bonding, coordination and inclusion are currently emp loyed. Cyclodextrin derivatives have proved to be the most versatile a nd universal CSPs in gas chromatography. Anchoring the CSPs to a polys iloxane backbone leads to Chirasil-type stationary phases with improve d temperature stability, efficiency and lifetimes. Immobilization of C hirasil-type stationary phases allows enantiomer separations also in c apillary supercritical fluid chromatography and capillary electrochrom atography. Thermodynamic parameters of enantioselectivity in gas chrom atography, kinetic studies of enantiomerization and methods of enantio mer labelling are discussed.