Abstract: | Chiral discrimination observed in high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with the novel chiral stationary phase (CSP‐18C6I) derived from (+)‐(R)‐18‐crown‐6 tetracarboxylic acid [(+)‐18C6H4] was investigated by X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the complex composed of the R‐enantiomer of 1‐(1‐naphthyl)ethylamine (1‐NEA) and (+)‐18C6H4. Mixtures of 1‐NEA (the R‐ or S‐enantiomer) and (+)‐18C6H4 were dissolved in methanol‐water (1:1) solution and allowed to stand for crystallization. The R‐enantiomer crystallized with (+)‐18C6H4 as a co‐crystal, although the S‐enantiomer did not. This result was in good agreement with the enantiomer elution order of 1‐NEA in CSP‐18C6I. The apparent binding constants (Ka) of the enantiomers to the (+)‐18C6H4 obtained from 1H‐NMR experiments also supported the above‐mentioned result. The X‐ray crystal structure of the 1:1 complex of the R‐enantiomer and (+)‐18C6H4 indicated the four sets of hydrogen bond association between the naphthylethylammonium cation and oxygen of polyether ring or carbonyl group of (+)‐18C6H4. Chirality 11:173–178, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. |