title: Chromatographic resolution of the enantiomers of phenylpropanolamine by using molecularly imprinted polymer as the stationary phase.
abstract: In this study molecular imprinting technology was employed to prepare a specific affinity sorbent for the resolution of phenylpropanolamine, a chiral drug. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared by non-covalent molecular imprinting with either (-)- or (+)-phenylpropanolamine as the template. Methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were copolymerized in the presence of the template molecule. The bulk polymerization was carried out in chloroform with 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator, at 4 degrees C and under UV radiation. The resulting MIP was ground into powders, which were slurry packed into analytical columns. After removal of template molecules, the MIP-packed columns were found to be effective for the resolution of (+/-)-phenylpropanolamine racemates. The separation factor for the enantiomers ranged between 1.8 and 3.8 when the column was packed with MIP prepared with (+)-phenylpropanolamine as the template. A separation factor ranging from 2.1 to 3.6 could be achieved from the column packed with MIP, prepared with (-)-phenylpropanolamine as the template. Although the separation factor was higher with that previously obtained from reversed-phase column chromatography following derivatization with a chiral agent, elution peaks were broader due to the heterogeneity of binding sites on MIP particles and the possible non-specific interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000032:analysis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine