Enantioseparation characteristics of the chiral stationary phases based on natural and regenerated chitins

Natural and regenerated chitins were derivatized with 3,5-dimethyphenyl isocyanate. The corresponding chiral stationary phases were prepared by coating the resulting chitin derivatives on 3-aminopropyl silica gel. The swelling capacity of the chitin derivatives, enantioseparation capability, as well as eluents tolerance of the chiral stationary phases were evaluated. The results demonstrated no remarkable difference in enantioseparation capability between natural and regenerated chitins based chiral stationary phases. The similar enantioseparation characteristics of two chiral stationary phases could be understood by comparing the IR spectra of related chitin derivatives. The one of the two chiral stationary phases prepared by coating the chitin derivative with a lower molecular weight generally provided better enantioseparations. All chiral stationary phases can work in 100% chloroform, 100% ethyl acetate, 100% acetone, and the mobile phases containing a certain amount of tetrahydrofuran. The chiral stationary phase prepared from the chitin derivative with the highest swelling capacity exhibited better enantioseparations than others. This chiral stationary phase was damaged by flushing with 100% tetrahydrofuran, however, the enantioseparation capability was recovered again after the column was allowed to stand for 1 month. Furthermore, the recovered chiral stationary phase provided better enantioseparations for some chiral analytes than before.