Resolution of chiral drugs

Abstract

Many drugs are administered as racemates, yet the enantiomers may have important pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic differences. Chiral analytical techniques are necessary to properly assess and understand such differences. Novel techniques to separate drug enantiomers present in serum and/or urine have recently emerged. This review describes commonly used approaches to chiral drug analysis in: diastereomeric derivatization, chiral mobile-phase additives, chiral stationary phases, and enantioselective immunoassays. Each of these techniques has advantages and disadvantages and no single approach has emerged as the method of choice. © 1991 IUPAC