Chiral separation of amino acids by ligand-exchange capillary electrochromatography using continuous beds

A chiral ligand-exchange phase for capillary electrochromatography based on continuous bed technology was developed. The chiral stationary phase is pr epared by a onestep in situ copolymerization procedure using methacrylamide , piperazine diacrylamide, vinylsulfonic acid and N-(2-hydroxy-3-allyloxypr opyl)-L-4-hydroxyproline. These chiral continuous beds are inexpensive and easy to prepare. They also have several advantages over silica-based packed capillaries. Since the bed is covalently attached to the capillary wall, n o frit is required. The applicability of this new approach to the chiral se paration of underivatized amino acids is demonstrated.