Chiral separation and quantitation of pentazocine enantiomers in pharmaceuticals by capillary zone electrophoresis using maltodextrins

The chiral separation of pentazocine was achieved by capillary electrophore sis using oligosaccharides. Enantiomers were separated on 100 mM Tris/H3PO4 buffer (pH 2.5) with 5% maltodextrin as a chiral selector, and migration b ehavior was monitored at 200 nm. Under these conditions, (-)- and (+)-penta zocine and dextromethorphan (internal standard) migrated within 9 min, and the resolution of pentazocine enantiomers was 2.54. Linear calibration curv es were obtained in the range 5-50 mu g ml(-1) for each enantiomer. The det ection limit of pentazocine enantiomers was 29 pg, and the recoveries of(-) - and(+)-pentazocine were 98.9 (R.S.D., 3.4%) and 101.4% (R.S.D., 4.3%) wit h 10 mu g ml(-1), respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.