Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of the enantiomers of metoprolol in serum using a chiral stationary phase.

Metoprolol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, is only available as a racemic mixture for clinical use. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the optical isomers (enantiomers) in human serum is described utilizing a commercially available column with a cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase. Separation of the enantiomers is accomplished without precolumn derivatization using a mobile phase of hexane-2-propanol-diethylamine (91:8:1, v/v). The method can be successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies in man.