Development of a chiral non-aqueous capillary electrophoretic system using the partial filling technique with UV and mass spectrometric detection

A chiral non-aqueous CE system with UV and mass spectrometric detection has been developed. The enantioseparation was promoted by diastereomeric complex (ion-pair) formation between the amines (e.g. salbutamol, atenolol) and the chiral selector, (−)-2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-l-gulonic acid [(−)-DIKGA]. Different solvent mixtures were studied, as well as different concentrations of (−)-DIKGA and ammonium acetate in the background electrolyte. A partial filling technique was developed with a selector plug composed of (−)-DIKGA and ammonium acetate in a solvent mixture of methanol and 2-propanol. The separated enantiomers of pronethalol were detected by a Q-TOF MS system equipped with a sheath-flow electrospray ionization interface.