SIMPLE CHIRAL LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF FLURBIPROFEN ENANTIOMERS IN BIOLOGICAL-FLUIDS

An isocratic, simple liquid chromatographic method for the resolution of flurbiprofen enantiomers and their identification in urine samples was described. The resolution of flurbiprofen was achieved using cellulose tris (4-methylbenzoate) as a chiral stationary phases after derivatization to its corresponding methyl esters using diazomethane. The stereochemical resolution (R) obtained was 1.32 with baseline separation. The capacity factor (k) for the first eluted peak (-)-R-flurbiprofen was 1.99 and the stereochemical separation factor (alpha) obtained was 1.28. The method was applied to identify the flurbirprofen enantiomers in urine samples.