USE OF SUBCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR THE SEPARATION OF ENANTIOMERS USING PACKED CELLULOSE-BASED STATIONARY-PHASE

Investigations into the parameters affecting the enantiomeric separati on of an intermediate in the synthesis of a drug targeted for cardiac arrhythmia is presented. The separation was achieved under subcritical fluid chromatography using CO2 modified with methanol and co-modifier s isopropyl amine and methylene chloride. The stationary phase was a c ellulose based stationary phase manufactured under the trade name Chir acel OB. The results showed the addition of methylene chloride had a n oticeable effect on resolution while the separation factor, alpha, rem ained constant. The co-modifier, isopropyl amine, did not considerably influence the resolution, or separation factor. Temperature studies w ere performed in order to establish the thermodynamic parameters of th e interaction between the enantiomers and the stationary phase. Plots of ln k' vs. 1/T proved to be curved, while plots of ln or vs. 1/T wer e linear. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.