The effect of the copper(II) salt anion in the Chiral Ligand-Exchange Chromatography of amino acids

Anal Chim Acta. 2009 Apr 13;638(2):225-33. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2009.02.031. Epub 2009 Feb 27.

Abstract

Due to the strong involvement in numerous biochemical processes, the separation and resolution of amino acids is a continuously challenging task. Among the experimental parameters affecting the performances in a Chiral Ligand-Exchange Chromatography (CLEC) environment, the effect of the copper(II) salt counter-ion has received very limited attention. Aimed at evaluating the Cu(II) counter-ion effect upon the overall chromatographic performances when the S-trityl-(R)-cysteine is adopted as the chiral selector for the coated stationary phase, a number of both organic (acetate, formate, trifluoromethane-sulfonate) and inorganic (bromide, chloride, nitrate, perchlorate, sulfate) salts has been engaged for the enantiomer separation of a selected set of aliphatic (Allo-Ile, Ile, Leu, Nor-Leu, Nor-Val, Val) and aromatic (AIDA, ATIDA, His, Phe, Phg, Tyr) amino acids. By varying the physico-chemical nature of the Cu(II) anion, a pronounced impact upon the resolution factor (R(S)) has been observed. Even if to a lesser extent, the enantioseparation factor values (alpha) underwent variation, as well. A molecular modelling investigation has also been carried out as a rationalization attempt of the observed chromatographic outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / isolation & purification*
  • Chemical Fractionation / methods*
  • Chromatography / methods*
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Salts / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Ligands
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Salts
  • Copper