Computer-aided optimisation of drug enantiomer separation in chiral high-performance liquid chromatography.

The advent of several new column materials for the resolution of chiral compounds in high-performance liquid chromatography has opened up new possibilities for the analysis of drug enantiomers both in the dosage form and in bioanalytical studies. The utility of simplex optimisation, modified simplex and response surface mapping are considered with reference to the antischistosomal drug, oxamniquine, separated on an alpha 1-acid glycoprotein column. The resolution of the enantiomers of three closely related benzodiazepines, temazepam, oxazepam and lorazepam, is attempted on three new column systems: cellulose triacetate, beta-cyclodextrin and the reversed-phase column porous graphitic carbon with beta-cyclodextrin as a mobile phase additive.