Enantiomeric resolution of dansyl amino acids by capillary electrochromatography based on molecular imprinting method

Recognition sites incorporating both pyridinyl and carboxy functionalities prepared by molecular imprinting were used for the enantioseparation of dansylated amino acids by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Simultaneous non-covalent molecular imprinting of two chemically distinct functional monomers, vinylpyridine and methacrylic acid, was demonstrated in ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-based copolymers. Polymers obtained were ground and sieved to particles < 10 mu m for filling into capillaries for CEC. Such imprinted polymers demonstrated improved recognition capabilities compared to polymers incorporating only one of the functional monomers. Several aspects of polymer preparation were investigated including the polymerization temperature, effect of solvent, composition of polymer together with the running conditions of the CEC. Separation was highly-specific and depended on the presence of both print molecule and functional monomers in the polymerization mixture.