Liquid chromatographic resolution of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids on a new chiral stationary phase derived from (S)-leucine

Enantiomers of racemic 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids have been resolved as their O-ethoxycarbonyl π-basic anilide derivatives on a new chiral stationary phase (CSP) derived from N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine N-phenyl N-alkylamide and the resolution results have been compared with those on various commercial π-acidic CSPs. The resolution results demonstrate that the new CSP derived from N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine N-phenyl N-alkylamide is most effective among the five CSPs tested for the resolution of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives. In order to elucidate the chiral recognition mechanism exerted by the new CSP, the resolution of slightly differently modified derivatives of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids on the new CSP has been investigated. Based on the resolution results, a chiral recognition mechanism utilizing three simultaneous interactions such as the face to face π–π interaction and the two hydrogen bonding interactions between the CSP and the more retained enantiomer of the analyte has been proposed.