α 1-Acid glycoprotein column in the high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of some groups of chiral drugs

The usefulness of the α 1-acid glycoprotein (Chiral—AGP) column in the analysis of chiral drugs and related materials is illustrated in three different fields. Excellent separations of the enantiomers of pharmacologically active α-ethyl benzhydrols such as 3-trifluoromethyl-α-ethyl benzhydrol (flumecinol) and 11 other derivatives are described. The enantiomers of N-protected amino-acid esters or amides can also be separated. The effect of the derivatization of the free α-amino group on the resolution of the enantiomers is exemplified by the formylation of alanine benzyl ester. As an example of the use of the method for the estimation of the optical purity of chiral drugs, the determination of the “ cis(−)” impurity in “ cis(+)” diltiazem is presented.