Use of cyclodextrins as chiral selectors for direct resolution of the enantiomers of fluoxetine and its metabolite norfluoxetine by HPLC

Abstract

Abstract The goal of this work is to investigate the direct chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of fluoxetine and its active metabolite norfluoxetine. The liquid chromatographic retention behavior of these enantiomers on a β‐cyclodextrin bonded‐phase column was investigated with respect to mobile phase composition, pH, ionic strength, and solvent selectivity. Relationships were established between these factors and the three most important chromatographic parameters: retention time, resolution, and selectivity. Most of the evidence suggests that the unique selectivity of this column isdue to inclusion complex formation, which provides the physical basis for enantiomeric resolution. After these studies a set of optimum chromatographic conditions was chosen for the simultaneous separation/determination of a mixture of the four enantiomers using fluorescence detector. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.