Cyclodextrin Bonded Phases For the Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Optical, Geometrical, and Structural Isomers

Abstract

Bonded cyclodextrin stationary phases retain a wide variety of compounds via inclusion complex formation. Not only do cyclodextrin molecules have a rigid, highly defined geometry but they are chiral as well. Consequently, compounds that were previously thought to be difficult to separate by conventional liquid chromatography can be easily resolved. The baseline separation of several enantiomers (e.g., dansyl amino acids and barbiturates) is demonstrated using conventional methanol:water mobile phases. Complete resolution of benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene, and several other isomeric compounds on a 10-cm column is demonstrated. In addition, cyclodextrin bonded columns may be preferable to conventional reversed-phase packings for many routine separations.