Abstract: | A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the analysis of the intermediate imines and end products in an asymmetric isomerization route toward optically active amines. Separation of the imine enantiomers was performed on commercially available Chiralcel OD-H, Chiralcel OJ, and Chiralpak AD chiral stationary phases. All substituted imine enantiomers could be readily resolved with selectivities (α) higher than 1.10 using the Chiralpak AD column. By derivatization with ring-substituted benzaldehydes, aromatic amines were converted into Schiff base derivatives and the enantiopurity of these amines was determined. Chirality 9:727–731, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |