Chiral Analysis and Separation

Chiral Analysis and Separation

BOC Scientific provides a variety of resolution methods and detailed analysis data to analyze and screen samples for customers worldwide. We will support the best comprehensive solution for chiral analysis and separation.

What is a Chiral Molecule?

A molecule possessing chirality is one that harbors a mirror image that is non-superimposable. In essence, such a molecule cannot be overlaid on its own mirror image, giving rise to its non-superimposable trait. This unique character stems from the molecule's asymmetrical three-dimensional structure, which arises from the manner in which its constituent atoms are arranged in space. The significance of chiral molecules transcends beyond chemistry and biology, as they often manifest different chemical and biological properties than their enantiomeric counterparts, also known as mirror images. Examples of chiral molecules include amino acids, sugars, nucleic acids, starch, cellulose, proteins, and many pharmaceutical drugs.

What is Chiral Analysis and Separation?

Chiral analysis is the process of determining the enantiomeric composition of a chiral molecule or mixture. The goal of chiral analysis is to determine the enantiomeric excess, or the ratio of the two enantiomers present in a sample. Chiral separation, on the other hand, is the process of separating enantiomers from a mixture.

Application of Chiral Analysis and Separation

Drug development: Owning to many drugs have enantiomeric pairs, so chiral analysis is essential in identifying and separating these enantiomers. It is used to determine the purity and composition of drugs and to ensure that the correct enantiomer is the effective molecule.

Food industry: In the realm of the food industry, the technique of chiral analysis takes center stage when it comes to identifying the enantiomeric composition of various food additives, including flavorings and sweeteners. Such a method not only serves to uncover the intricate details of chiral compounds' metabolism in food but also helps to unravel the potentially consequential health effects of consuming specific enantiomers.

Environmental monitoring: Chiral analysis can detect and measure the enantiomeric composition of pollutants and contaminants in the environment, which can help in understanding the fate and behavior of chiral pollutants and in assessing their potential risks to the environment and human health.

Agriculture: Determining the enantiomeric composition of agrochemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides. Chiral analysis is also used to investigate the chiral nature of plant and animal metabolism and to understand the biological activity of chiral molecules in the environment.

Forensic science: Identifing the enantiomeric composition of drugs and other compounds found at crime scenes, which can help in determining the source and origin of these compounds and in providing evidence in legal proceedings.

Our Methods of Chiral Analysis and Separation

The separation and analysis methods of chiral substances include crystallization resolution, chemical resolution, kinetic resolution and chromatographic resolution that are often combined with centrifuge separation. Common chromatographic resolution methods include capillary electrophoresis (CE), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Chromatography has become the main tool for current chiral analysis and separation. Taking HPLC as an example, it has a wide range of applications and strong separation capability, and it has become one of the preferred technology platforms for the separation of chiral compounds. SFC, another example, is a new chromatographic technique. SFC can be used as an alternative to normal phase HPLC and is often used for the separation of chiral compounds. SFC can be used as a complementary technology to HPLC and GC.

The identification and quantification of compounds are determined by chromatograms, that is, determine what each chromatographic peak represents, and then further determine the composition of the sample mixture composed of these components. Generally, the x-axis represents the retention time, and the y-axis represents the absorption intensity measured by the UV detector. The retention time is related to the structure and properties of the components, and is a qualitative parameter that can be used for compound identification. The methods for identifying compounds by HPLC and SFC are basically the same

Enantiomeric separation is a key step in the development of new chiral drugs. The enantiomeric compounds have exactly the same physical and chemical properties except for the opposite direction of polarized light deflection, so it is difficult to separate them. Traditional methods (crystal resolution method, enzyme resolution method, etc.) have great limitations. HPLC has become the most widely used method for enantiomeric separation. The method for the purification of enantiomers by HPLC and SFC is generally referred to as the continuous adsorption and desorption of compounds between the stationary phase (the column) and the mobile phase so that different compounds can be separated. Because different compounds have different forces between the two (stationary phase and mobile phase). Some chiral substances and spatial isomers have almost the same polarity, so they are difficult to separate. Therefore, special chiral columns are needed to separate them for purify.

We provide regulatory-driven analysis to support your regulatory plans, such as new chemical notification research or drug development requirements. BOC Sciences has state-of-the-art HPLC, GC, CE, and SFC equipment, as well as a dedicated team of experts who can customize the chiral analysis and separation services for you.

Online Inquiry
Verification code