Enantioresolution of pharmaceutical compounds by capillary electrophoresis. Use of cyclodextrins and antibiotics

Capillary electroyhoresis (CE) is a powerful tool for the analysis of chira l compounds of pharmaceutical interest. The separation of enantiomers can b e achieved using a chiral environment responsible for the diastereoisomers formation (stable or labile in the indirect or direct separation method, re spectively). A wide number of chiral selectors have been employed in CE and among them cyclodextrins or their derivatives and antibiotics are the most used stereoselective agents. The review surveys the chiral separation of d rugs using the above mentioned chiral selectors by CE. The main parameters influencing the enantioresolution, e.g., chiral selector type and concentra tion, buffer type, concentration, pH, organic modifier as well as the capil lary temperature are discussed. Finally some selected applications to real samples such as pharmaceutical formulations, serum, urine are also discusse d.