Simulated moving-bed chromatography and its application to chirotechnology

The increased awareness of the differences in biological activity of the tw o enantiomers of a chiral drug has raised the demand for enantiomerically p ure products, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Simulated moving -bed chromatography can be used for the separation of the two enantiomers o f a chiral molecule, which is feasible at all production scales, from labor atory to pilot to production plant. The use of non-enantioselective synthes is of racemic mixtures and simulated moving-bed enantiomer separation might make the development process of a new chiral drug substantially shorter an d cheaper.