Enantiomer separations in capillary electrophoresis in the case of equal binding constants of the enantiomers with a chiral selector: commentary on the feasibility of the concept.

It is generally acknowledged that enantiomer separations in capillary electrophoresis are based on differences in the affinities of the analyte enantiomers toward the chiral selector expressed as equilibrium constants of the resulting temporary diastereomeric associates. However, as can be derived from theoretical considerations, a separation of enantiomers by CE is in principle also possible solely based on differences in the mobilities of the temporary diastereomeric complexes per se, when equal binding constants between analyte enantiomers and the chiral selector are assumed and observed.