Empirical relationship between chiral selectivity and mobile phase modifier properties.

An empirical relationship was derived which relates properties of the mobile phase modifier to the chiral selectivity factor for a given analyte/chiral selector combination. Using carbon dioxide and heptane-based mobile phases, the effect of various mobile phase modifiers on Pirkle-type stationary phases may be accurately modeled using a two-parameter equation. Similar results are obtained using cellulosic stationary phases with carbon dioxide-based mobile phases. Modeling separations performed using heptane-based mobile phases with cellulosic stationary phases were not successful. The predictive ability of this modeling approach was demonstrated using novel modifiers and chiral analytes.