A simple method to optimize the HSCCC two-phase solvent system by predicting the partition coefficient for target compound.

A simple method was developed to optimize the solvent ratio of the two-phase solvent system used in the high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) separation. Some mathematic equations, such as the exponential and the power equations, were established to describe the relationship between the solvent ratio and the partition coefficient. Using this new method, the two-phase solvent system was easily optimized to obtain a proper partition coefficient for the CCC separation of the target compound. Furthermore, this method was satisfactorily applied in determining the two-phase solvent system for the HSCCC preparation of pseudolaric acid B from the Chinese herb Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon (Pinaceae). The two-phase solvent system of n-hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/H(2)O (5:5:5:5 by volume) was used with a good partition coefficient K = 1.08. As a result, 232.05 mg of pseudolaric acid B was yielded from 0.5 g of the crude extract with a purity of 97.26% by HPLC analysis.