Improved simultaneous enantioseparation of beta-agonists in CE using beta-CD and ionic liquids.

In this study, approaches to improve chiral resolutions in simultaneous enantioseparation of beta-agonists by CE via a CD inclusion complexation modified with ionic liquids (ILs) are described. Different types of ILs, including tetraalkylammonium-based ILs, alkylimidazolium-based ILs and alkylpyridinium-based ILs, were examined and compared for controlling the EOF in order to improve resolutions of beta-agonists enantiomers. In this regard, tetraalkylammonium-based ILs were more effective because they could be used at much higher concentrations than other types of ILs. N-octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate gave poor resolutions of beta-agonists enantiomers. In addition, when different ILs were mixed to use, they would present particular properties of their own. Moreover, the presence of ILs was essential in the chiral separations of (+/-) salbutamol, (+/-) cimaterol and (+/-) formoterol, which were reportedly not enantioseparated by using the buffer electrolytes containing only beta-CD as a chiral selector.