Simultaneous separation of different enantiomeric pairs in capillary electrophoresis by mixing different hemispherodextrins, a very versatile class of receptors

Six different racemates of the profen family were used as analytes in order to test the chiral selector properties of three members of a new class of cyclodextrin derivatives, hemispherodextrins (HMs), in capillary electrophoresis. In addition to experiments carried out to separate each enantiomeric pair one by one, other experiments were carried out on samples containing all six enantiomeric pairs. Electropherograms were obtained either by adding a single HM to the background electrolyte (BGE), or a binary mixture of HMs. The results obtained confirm the excellent chiral selector properties of the HMs, and furthermore show that these compounds can also be used for achiral selection. When mixing different HMs, a complementary effect in chiral selectivity is observed, which, in our opinion, deserves further study.