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.
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.
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.
Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is an established technique for investigating the stereochemistry and conformational properties of chiral molecules. By measuring the differential absorption of left- and right-circularly polarized light, CD provides valuable information about molecular asymmetry and enantiomeric purity. This method is widely applied in structural biology and pharmaceutical sciences: it can be used to analyze the secondary structure of proteins, to assess the stability of biomolecules under different conditions, and to evaluate enantiomeric composition in drug research. Compared with other analytical techniques, CD spectroscopy offers rapid and non-destructive testing, high sensitivity, and broad applicability to complex chemical and biological systems. Incorporating CD spectroscopy into chiral analysis workflows enhances accuracy and efficiency in characterizing enantiomers.
Racemic mixtures contain equal amounts of two enantiomers, which makes them challenging to use directly in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, or fine chemicals. Because each enantiomer can exhibit very different biological activity or toxicity, it is essential to separate them into pure forms for reliable application. Resolution strategies are diverse: crystallization resolution is suitable for relatively simple molecules, enzymatic resolution takes advantage of stereoselective enzymes to act on one enantiomer, while chromatography-based methods such as chiral HPLC and SFC provide high precision and scalability for more complex compounds. Each method has unique strengths and limitations, and the optimal choice depends on the molecular structure, production scale, and purity requirements. BOC Sciences develops tailored racemic mixture resolution solutions to ensure efficient isolation, reproducibility, and high-quality results that support both early drug discovery and advanced chemical development.
The separation of chiral compounds is a systematic process that combines analytical identification, selection of resolution strategies, and optimization of experimental conditions. A typical workflow begins with establishing the enantiomeric composition through techniques such as HPLC, SFC, or CD spectroscopy. Researchers then select an appropriate resolution method, whether crystallization, enzymatic treatment, or chromatography on chiral stationary phases, followed by fine-tuning of parameters such as solvent, temperature, and pH to maximize yield and enantiomeric excess. Once an effective separation protocol has been developed, purity and reproducibility are validated with chromatographic and spectroscopic data before moving on to scale-up. This structured approach ensures that chiral compounds can be efficiently isolated and applied in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial fields.
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.
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.
BOC Sciences provides comprehensive analytical chiral services that cover every stage from enantiomeric analysis to large-scale separation. Our expertise includes enantiomeric excess determination, method development, optimization of separation workflows, and technical support for scale-up. By combining advanced chromatographic platforms such as HPLC, GC, CE, and SFC with complementary analytical approaches, we deliver accurate, reproducible, and project-specific results. Each solution is customized according to the client’s objectives, ensuring efficiency, flexibility, and reliability. With this integrated service model, BOC Sciences helps accelerate research timelines, reduce development risks, and provide practical pathways from laboratory exploration to production-scale chiral applications.
Our chiral analysis services cover both detection and separation, using state-of-the-art techniques to ensure enantiomeric purity. BOC Sciences tailors solutions to meet diverse project specifications.
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