Capillary electrophoresis of tetrahydroberberine alkaloids: Chiral separation by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method for the separati on of tetrahydroberberine alkaloids was established. An electrolyte solutio n of 0.02 M sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) in 0.03 M berate buffer (pH 9) co ntaining 10% acetonitrile, and an applied voltage of 20 kV, were found to b e the appropriate conditions for this separation. Enantiomers of the tetrah ydroberberine alkaloids were separated by the addition of gamma-cyclodextri n (gamma-CD) to the SDS micelle solution with a maximum analysis time of 11 min. The resolution was optimized by changing the concentration of gamma-C D. The method described is simple, rapid and reproducible, Copyright (C) 19 99 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.