A Simple and Rapid Method for the Separation of the (R)- and (S)-Enantiomers of the Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloid Salsolinol by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatographic technique for the separation of the optical isomers of salsolinol is described. The simple and rapid method allows the direct resolution of the enantiomers without derivatization. A complete separation (baseline resolution) of (R)-(+)-salsolinol and (S)-(-)-salsolinol could be achieved on a Chiral=Si 100 ß-cyclodextrin column using water mixed with 10% methanol (v/v) and 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (v/v) as mobile phase. Analyses carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min were accomplished in less than 12 minutes.