Enantiomeric separations by use of polymeric surfactant electrokinetic chromatography

This review surveys the enantiomeric separation of drugs by electrokinetic chromatography using polymeric chiral surfactant pseudostationary phases. These phases have recently been shown to provide better mass transfer and increased rigidity and stability than regular micelles in micellar capillary electrophoresis. Characterization of the polymeric chiral surfactants is presented. Solution interactions of the pseudostationary phases via thermodynamics and fluorescence probe studies are evaluated. Also, case studies of enantiomeric separation of drugs using a single amino acid surfactant and the synergistic effect of the addition of gamma-cyclodextrin to the buffer is discussed. The use of dipeptide surfactants for chiral drug separations is described as well. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.