HPLC Enantioseparation of β-Blockers on Ovomucoid Stationary Phase

The purpose of this study was to separate single and multiple pairs of six beta-blockers enantiomers by high performance liquid chromatography on ovomucoid (OM) column in optimal conditions. The separation was performed isocratically or in gradient elution at 25 degrees C, flow rate of 1 mL/min and 220 nm. The mobile phase consisted of phosphate buffer/acetonitrile or methanol. The effect of the organic modifier, the influence of pH and the percentage of the aqueous phase on resolution were investigated. The elution order of propranolol (PRP) enantiomers was established as well as the detection and quantification limits. The results show that OM was suitable for enantiomeric separation of the nonselective beta-blockers carvedilol, PRP, pindolol and oxprenolol, and not for the two beta-1 selective blockers, atenolol and metoprolol. A hypothesis regarding a possible correlation between structure-pharmacological activity-chromatographic behavior is proposed.