Large scale chiral chromatography for the separation of an enantiomer to accelerate drug development

There are several approaches to produce enantiomerically pure drug substances, such as recrystallization, catalytic process (ligand and enzyme), indirect chromatographic resolution, and direct chromatographic resolution. However, the use of preparative chromatography with chiral stationary phases seems to be most effective for early phase projects, where the time and resources on the developments need to be minimized to get the drug candidates into the clinical studies. We showed that by following a well-defined process, chiral chromatography can be easily scaled up from an analytical system to a pilot plant system. We also used the results from a multicolumn continuous chromatography (MCC) study to conclude that MCC can be a cost-effective production method for chiral manufacturing.     

HPLC on chiral support with polarimetric detection: application to conglomerate discovery

In conglomerates, each single crystal contains only one of the two possible enantiomeric forms--either dextrorotatory or levorotatory. The analysis of a single crystal by liquid chromatography on chiral support associated with chiroptical detection is a very efficient tool to reveal the occurrence of a conglomerate. In terms of rapidity and easiness, this method compares favorably with the classical methods used to show this occurrence. Two examples are provided.     

Liquid Chromatographic Resolution of Amino Acid Esters of Acyclovir Including Racemic Valacyclovir on Crown Ether‐Based Chiral Stationary Phases

Valacyclovir, a potential prodrug for the treatment of patients with herpes simplex and herpes zoster, and its analogs were resolved on two chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on (3,3’‐diphenyl‐1,1’‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6 covalently bonded to silica gel. In order to find out an appropriate mobile phase condition, various mobile phases consisting of various organic modifiers in water containing various acidic modifiers were applied to the resolution of valacyclovir and its analogs. When 30% acetonitrile in water containing any of 0.05 M, 0.10 M, or 0.15 M perchloric acid was used as a mobile phase, valacyclovir and its analogs were resolved quite well on the two CSPs with the separation factors (α) in the range of 2.49 ~ 6.35 and resolutions (R_S) in the range of 2.95 ~ 12.21. Between the two CSPs, the CSP containing residual silanol protecting n‐octyl groups on the silica surface was found to be better than the CSP containing residual silanol groups. Chirality 27:268–273, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Preparation of a New Chiral Stationary Phase Based on Macrocyclic Amide Chiral Selector for the Liquid Chromatographic Chiral Separations

A new chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on macrocyclic amide receptor was prepared starting from (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine. The new CSP was successfully applied to the resolution of various N‐(substituted benzoyl)‐α‐amino amides with reasonably good separation factors and resolutions (α = 1.75 ~ 2.97 and R_S = 2.89 ~ 6.82 for 16 analytes). The new CSP was also applied to the resolution of 3‐substituted 1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐ones and some diuretic chiral drugs including bendroflumethiazide and methylchlothiazide and metolazone. The resolution results for 3‐substituted 1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐ones and some diuretic chiral drugs were also reasonably good. Chirality 28:253–258, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chiral separation of tryptophan enantiomers by liquid chromatography with BSA-silica stationary phase

The separation of tryptophan enantiomers was carried out with medium-pressure liquid chromatography using BSA (bovine serum albumin)-bonded silica as a chiral stationary phase. The influence of various experimental factors such as pH and ionic strength of mobile phase, separation temperature, and the presence of organic additives on the resolution was studied. In order to expand this system to preparative scale, the loadability of sample and the stability of stationary phase for repeated use were also examined. The separation of tryptophan enantiomers was successful with this system. The data indicated that a higher separation factor (α) was obtained at a higher pH and lower temperature and ionic strength in mobile phase. Addition of organic additives (acetonitrile and 2-propanol) in mobile phase contributed to reduce the retention time of L-tryptophan. About 30% of the separation factor was reduced after 80 days of repeated use.     

Structural features affecting chiral resolution of cannabimimetic enantiomers by amylose 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate chiral stationary phase

The effect of structural features of six pairs of enantiomers of cannabimimetic compounds on their chromatographic resolution on an amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase was studied using various compositions of n-hexane with 2-propanol and ethanol. Structural analysis by molecular mechanics was also performed to verify that the 3D conformation within this family of compounds was preserved with substitution. The homologous enantiomeric pairs showed better resolution when there was an additional OH group near the chiral centers (position 7 on the cannabinoid structure). Better resolution was observed also for the enantiomeric pair that had the smaller alkyl side chain. These differences indicated that the additional OH group contributed to a better discrimination of the enantiomers by the chiral sites of the stationary phase and that the bulkier alkyl side chain reduced it. The chromatographic resolution of two enantiomeric pairs of nonclassical cannabinoids HU-249 and HU-250, HU-255 and HU-256, was compared both in ethanol and 2-propanol. Both enantiomeric pairs showed relatively high resolution and selectivity, but the rigid benzofuran analogs (HU-249 and HU-250) exhibited better resolution using 2-propanol, in spite of the flexibility of the open chain analog (HU-255 and HU-256) and its additional OH group. The elution order of all the cannabinoids was (+)/(?) using both solvents. Unusual solvent effects were displayed by one enantiomeric pair, Δ⁶-THC, which was resolved easily using 2-propanol, but whose elution order reversed with 1% ethanol in the mobile phase. Partial separation was obtained at 5% ethanol [elution order (+)/(?)] and full separation was obtained at 0.5% ethanol [elution order (?)/(+)]. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Enantioseparation on 4-halogen-substituted phenylcarbamates of amylose as chiral stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography

Four 4-halogen-substituted phenylcarbamate derivatives of amylose were prepared and their chiral recognition abilities as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were evaluated and compared with those of the corresponding cellulose derivatives. The amylose derivatives with fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo group at the four-position on the phenyl group were found to show higher chiral resolving ability than the corresponding cellulose derivatives. Among four amylose derivatives 4-fluoro- and 4-chlorophenylcarbamates showed an excellent chiral recognition ability. Especially, amylose tris(4-chlorophenylcarbamate) resolved (±)-1,2,2,2-tetraphenylethanol with a very high α value (α = 8.29). In order to obtain useful information concerning the chiral recognition mechanism of this resolution, we also performed enantioseparation of a variety of analogous racemic alcohols, and found that both the hydroxy and bulky triphenylmethyl groups of the racemate are essential for the effective chiral recognition. Chirality 9:63–68, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Liquid Chromatographic Resolution of Mexiletine and Its Analogs on Crown Ether‐Based Chiral Stationary Phases

Mexiletine, an effective class IB antiarrhythmic agent, and its analogs were resolved on three different crown ether‐based chiral stationary phases (CSPs), one (CSP 1 ) of which is based on (+)‐(18‐crown‐6)‐2,3,11,12‐tetracarboxylic acid and the other two (CSP 2 and CSP 3 ) are based on (3,3’‐diphenyl‐1,1’‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6. Mexiletine was resolved with a resolution (R_S) of greater than 1.00 on CSP 1 and CSP 3 containing residual silanol group‐protecting n‐octyl groups on the silica surface, but with a resolution (R_S) of less than 1.00 on CSP 2 . The chromatographic behaviors for the resolution of mexiletine analogs containing a substituted phenyl group at the chiral center on the three CSPs were quite dependent on the phenoxy group of analytes. Namely, mexiletine analogs containing 2,6‐dimethylphenoxy, 3,4‐dimethylphenoxy, 3‐methylphenoxy, 4‐methylphenoxy, and a simple phenoxy group were resolved very well on the three CSPs even though the chiral recognition efficiencies vary with the CSPs. However, mexiletine analogs containing 2‐methylphenoxy group were not resolved at all or only slightly resolved. Among the three CSPs, CSP 3 was found to show the highest chiral recognition efficiencies for the resolution of mexiletine and its analogs, especially in terms of resolution (R_S). Chirality 26:272–278, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Additive concentration effects on enantioselective separations in supercritical fluid chromatography

Polar additive concentration effects in supercritical fluid chromatography were studied on chiral stationary phases having either a macrocyclic glycopeptide or a derivatized polysaccharide as the chiral selector. Two basic additives, isopropylamine and triethylamine, were incorporated into the methanol modifier at various concentrations and the effects on retention, selectivity, and resolution were monitored. Many of the analytes failed to elute from the macrocyclic glycopeptide stationary phase in the absence of an additive and the most noticeable effect of increasing additive concentration was a significant decrease in retention. On the derivatized polysaccharide stationary phase the additives had little effect on retention, but they did foster significant improvements in peak shape and resolution.     

Direct determination of the enantiomeric purity of (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid

The determination of enantiomeric purity of (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid by chiral HPLC is described. Good resolution has been obtained on covalently bonded L-hydroxyproline saturated with Cu(II) ions. The method makes possible the determination of enantiomeric purity in media containing growing cells. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Direct resolution of propranolol and bupranolol by thin-layer chromatography using cellulose derivatives as stationary phase

Cellulose triphenylcarbamate derivatives have been used as stationary phases for resolution of the enantiomers of the β-blockers propranolol and bupranolol by TLC. The derivatives examined were: cellulose trisphenylacarbamate (1), cellulose tris(2,3-dichlorophenyl carbamate) (2), cellulose tris(2,4-dichlorophenyl carbamate) (3), cellulose tris(2,6-dichlorophenyl carbamate) (4), cellulose tris (2,3-dimethylphenyl carbamate) (5), cellulose tris(3,4-dichlorophenyl carbamate) (6), cellulose tris(3,5-dichlorophenyl carbamate) (7), and cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate) (8). A variety of mobile phases were used to achieve useful separations and the effects of solvent polarity are also discussed. The best resolution of rac-propranolol was obtained on CSP 8 (R_fR = 0.26, R_fS = 0.06, α = 4.33) in mobile phase hexane:propan-2-ol (80:20 v/v). The best resolution of rac-bupranolol was obtained on CSP 5 (R_fR = 0.29, R_fS = 0.09, α = 3.22) in mobile phase hexane:propan-2-ol (80:20 v/v). These results demonstrated the potential of cellulose triphenylcarbamates as chiral stationary phases in TLC and indicate that this is potentially a useful method for the direct, simple, and rapid (within 30 min) resolution of racemates in the analytical control of enantiomeric purity. Physical aspects such as problems in cracking of the CSP, adhesion to plate, and interference of spot detection due to triphenylcarbamate chromphores are also discussed, along with the method employed to overcome them. Chirality 9:139–144, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The resolution of five racemic alpha-lactams by HPLC

The resolution of five racemic alpha-lactams (1a-d,g) using HPLC is reported. Five different Pirkle-type stationary phases were tested. The enantiomers of alpha-lactams containing the trityl group (1a-d) were separated (selectivity factors ranging from 1.08 to 1.20) using a mobile phase of hexane/2-propanol:98/2 and a stationary phase consisting of the 3,5-dinitroaniline derivative of (S)-valine with a urea linkage. Among the dialkyl-substituted alpha-lactams (1e-g), only 1,3-di-tert-butylaziridinone (1g) could be resolved, but only partially (selectivity factor = 1.07), with a mobile phase of hexane/1,2-dichloroethane:95/5 and the stationary phase consisting of the 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid derivative of (R)-1-naphthylglycine.     

A convenient and validated enantiomer separation of chiral aliphatic amines as nitrobenzoxadiazole derivatives on polysaccharide‐derived chiral stationary phases under simultaneous ultraviolet and fluorescence detection

A convenient method using a fluorogenic agent, 4‐chloro‐7‐nitro‐1,2,3‐benzoxadiazole (NBD‐Cl), was developed for enantiomer separation of chiral aliphatic amines including amino alcohols by normal high‐performance liquid chromatography. The enantiomer separation of chiral aliphatic amines as NBD derivatives was performed on six covalently bonded and four coated‐type polysaccharide‐derived chiral stationary phases (CSPs) under simultaneous ultraviolet (UV) and fluorescence detection (FLD). Among the covalently bonded CSPs, Chiralpak IE showed the best enantiomer separation for most analytes. The other CSPs also showed good enantioselectivity except for Chiralpak IB. On the other hand, Chiralpak AD‐H and Amylose‐1 generally exhibited better enantiomer separation of NBD derivatized chiral amines among the coated CSPs. The developed analytical technique was also applied to determine the optical purity of commercially available (R)‐ and (S)‐leucinol; the impurity was found to be 0.06%. The developed method was validated and proved to be an accurate, precise, sensitive, and selective method suitable for separation of chiral aliphatic amines as NBD derivatives under simultaneous UV and FLD.     

Quinine‐Based Zwitterionic Chiral Stationary Phase as a Complementary Tool for Peptide Analysis: Mobile Phase Effects on Enantio‐ and Stereoselectivity of Underivatized Oligopeptides

Peptide stereoisomer analysis is of importance for quality control of therapeutic peptides, the analysis of stereochemical integrity of bioactive peptides in food, and the elucidation of the stereochemistry of peptides from a natural chiral pool which often contains one or more D‐amino acid residues. In this work, a series of model peptide stereoisomers (enantiomers and diastereomers) were analyzed on a zwitterionic ion‐exchanger chiral stationary phase (Chiralpak ZWIX(+) 5 µm), in order to investigate the retention and separation performance for such compounds on this chiral stationary phase and elucidate its utility for this purpose. The goal of the study focused on 1) investigations of the effects of the sample matrix used to dissolve the peptide samples; 2) optimization of the mobile phase (enabling deriving information on factors of relevance for retention and separation); and 3) derivation of structure–selectivity relationships. It turned out that small di‐ and tripeptides can be well resolved under optimized conditions, typically with resolutions larger than 1.5. The optimized mobile phase often consisted of methanol–tetrahydrofuran–water (49:49:2; v/v/v) with 25 mM formic acid and 12.5 mM diethylamine. This work proposes some guidance on which mobile phases can be most efficiently used for peptide stereoisomer separations on Chiralpak ZWIX. Chirality 28:5–16, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Assignment of absolute configuration to an improved enantioselective naproxen selector

Assignment of absolute configuration to a recently developed chiral selector useful in the separation of the underivatized enantiomers of naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is described. Circular dichroism, ¹H NMR, and X-ray diffraction have been used to confirm the original assignment which was based solely upon elution orders from HPLC chiral stationary phases. All of these techniques agree in the assignment of the (S,S) absolute configuration to the enantiomer of the chiral selector which associates preferentially with (S)-naproxen. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Chiral Ligand‐Exchange Resolution of Underivatized Amino Acids on a Dynamically Modified Stationary Phase for RP‐HPTLC

The synthesis of Spi(τ‐dec), derived from the selective alkylation of L‐spinacine (4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine‐6‐carboxylic acid) at the τ‐nitrogen of its heteroaromatic ring, with a linear hydrocarbon chain of 10 carbon atoms, is described here for the first time. Spi(τ‐dec) was successfully employed in the past to prepare home‐made chiral columns for chiral ligand‐exchange high‐performance liquid chromatography. In the present article a new method is described, using Spi(τ‐dec) as a chiral selector in high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC): commercial hydrophobic plates were first coated with Spi(τ‐dec) and then treated with copper sulfate. The performance of this new chiral stationary phase was tested against racemic mixtures of aromatic amino acids, after appropriate optimization of both the conditions of preparation of the plates and the mobile phase composition. The enantioselectivity values obtained for the studied compounds were higher than those reported in the literature for similar systems. The method employed here for the preparation of chiral HPTLC plates proved practical, efficient, and inexpensive. Chirality 26:313–318, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Comparative studies between covalently immobilized and coated chiral stationary phases based on polysaccharide derivatives for enantiomer separation of N‐protected α‐amino acids and their ester derivatives

Liquid chromatographic enantiomer separation of several N‐benzyloxycarbonyl (CBZ) and N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl (BOC) α‐amino acids and their corresponding ethyl esters was performed on covalently immobilized chiral stationary phases (CSPs) (Chiralpak IA and Chiralpak IB) and coated‐type CSPs (Chiralpak AD and Chiralcel OD) based on polysaccharide derivatives. The solvent versatility of the covalently immobilized CSPs in enantiomer separation of N‐CBZ and BOC‐α‐amino acids and their ester derivatives was shown and the chromatographic parameters of their enantioselectivities and resolution factors were greatly influenced by the nature of the mobile phase. In general, standard mobile phases using 2‐propanol and hexane on Chiralpak IA showed fairly good enantioselectivities for resolution of N‐CBZ and BOC‐α‐amino acids and their esters. However, 50% MTBE/hexane (v/v) for resolution of N‐CBZ‐α‐amino acids ethyl esters and 20% THF/hexane (v/v) for resolution of N‐BOC‐α‐amino acids ethyl esters afforded the greatest enantioselectivities on Chiralpak IA. Also, liquid chromatographic comparisons of the enantiomer resolution of these analytes were made on amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐derived CSPs (Chiralpak IA and Chiralpak AD) and cellulose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐derived CSPs (Chiralpak IB and Chiralcel OD). Chiralpak AD and/or Chiralcel OD showed the highest enantioselectivities for resolution of N‐CBZ‐α‐amino acids and esters, while Chiralpak AD or Chiralpak IA showed the highest resolution of N‐BOC‐α‐amino acids and esters. Chirality 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The determination of (-)-(S)- and (+)-(R)-ifosfamide in plasma using enantioselective gas chromatography: a validated assay for pharmacokinetic and clinical studies

An enantioselective gas chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the determination of the plasma concentration of the enantiomers of the anticancer drug ifosfamide (IFF). In this approach, the IFF enantiomers are separated from the plasma matrix by solid phase extraction, chromatographically resolved by gas chromatography on a chiral stationary phase, and detected by mass selective detection using selective ion monitoring. The assay has been validated for routine clinical and pharmacokinetic use and has a limit of detection in plasma of 250 ng/ml of each isomer.     

New chiral stationary phases based on xanthone derivatives for liquid chromatography

Six chiral derivatives of xanthones (CDXs) were covalently bonded to silica, yielding the corresponding xanthonic chiral stationary phases (XCSPs). The new XCSPs were packed into stainless‐steel columns with 150 x 4.6 mm i.d. Moreover, the greening of the chromatographic analysis by reducing the internal diameter (150 x 2.1 mm i.d.) of the liquid chromatography (LC) columns was also investigated. The enantioselective capability of these phases was evaluated by LC using different chemical classes of chiral compounds, including several types of drugs. A library of CDXs was evaluated in order to explore the principle of reciprocity as well as the chiral self‐recognition phenomenon. The separation of enantiomeric mixtures of CDXs was investigated under multimodal elution conditions. The XCSPs provided high specificity for the enantiomeric mixtures of CDXs evaluated mainly under normal‐phase elution conditions. Furthermore, two XCSPs were prepared with both enantiomers of the same xanthonic selector in order to confirm the inversion order elution.     

Enantioseparation of mandelic acid on vancomycin column: Experimental and docking study

So far, no detailed view has been expressed regarding the interactions between vancomycin and racemic compounds including mandelic acid. In the current study, a chiral stationary phase was prepared by using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and succinic anhydride to graft carboxylated silica microspheres and subsequently by activating the carboxylic acid group for vancomycin immobilization. Characterization by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated effective functionalization of the silica surface. R and S enantiomers of mandelic acid were separated by the synthetic vancomycin column. Finally, the interaction between vancomycin and R/S mandelic acid enantiomers was simulated by Auto-dock Vina. The binding energies of interactions between R and S enantiomers and vancomycin chiral stationary phase were different. In the most probable interaction, the difference in mandelic acid binding energy was approximately 0.2 kcal/mol. In addition, circular dichroism spectra of vancomycin interacting with R and S enantiomers showed different patterns. Therefore, R and S mandelic acid enantiomers may occupy various binding pockets and interact with different vancomycin functions. These observations emphasized the different retention of R and S mandelic acid enantiomers in vancomycin chiral column.