Enantiomer resolution by using capillary zone electrophoresis: resolution of racemic tryptophan and determination of the enantiomer composition of commercial pharmaceutical epinephrine.

The enantiomers of D- and L-tryptophan were separated by capillary electrophoresis, using alpha-cyclodextrin as a chiral active component in the background electrolyte. The separation of (-) and (+) epinephrine was achieved by supplementing the background electrolyte with Heptakis (2,6-di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin). As a practical application of the method, the quantitative analysis of (-) and (+) enantiomers in commercial pharmaceutical solutions of adrenaline is shown.