Enantiomeric separation and sensitive detection of propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol derivatized with a fluorogenic reagent, 4-(N-chloroformylmethyl-N-methyl)amino-7-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-COCI), on cellulose chiral columns in the reversed-phase mode

An electrophilic fluorogenic reagent, 4-(N-chloroformylmethyl-N-methyl)amino-7-N, N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-2, 1, 3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-COCI), was used to react with three beta-blockers, propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol, to yield the derivatives which mere subsequently verified to be amide compounds (1:1 adducts) derived from the reaction with the secondary amino group of the beta-blockers. DBD-COCI exhibited high reactivity for the reaction completed within 5 min under mild conditions and without any need for a catalyst. The derivatives were well separated enantiomerically on cellulose CSPs (the derivative of propranolol on a Chiralcel OD-R column and those of metoprolol and atenolol on a Chiralcel OJ-R column)in the reversed-phase mode, with the S-configurations being eluted before the R-configurations. The derivatives were stable at 4 degrees C for 1 week, The detection limits (S/N = 3) mere 50 fmol for both (S)- and (R)-propranolol, 12 and 17 fmol for (S)- and (R)-metoprolol, respectively, and 15 and 20 fmol for (S)- and (R)-atenolol, respectively.