Patent ID: 6090250
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: B01F,C07B,C07C,C07D,C07J

Abstract:
A method for separating a chiral compound into its constituent enantiomers, comprising the steps of:(a) injecting said chiral compound into a channel that contains an electrolyte solution and a chiral surfactant that is present in the electrolyte solution in a concentration that is at or above its critical micelle concentration, said chiral surfactant having the general formula: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1 =C.sub.4 -C.sub.18 linear alkyls, C.sub.4 -C.sub.18 branched alkyls, C.sub.4 -C.sub.18 halogen-substituted linear alkyls, C.sub.4 -C.sub.18 polyether hydrocarbons, C.sub.4 -C.sub.18 alkyls having a chiral center, all alkyls optionally being unsaturated, and cholesterolic hydrocarbons:Y=O, NH or CH.sub.2 ;A=NH, CO, SO or SO.sub.2 ;X=CO, O or NH;C=carbon;a.noteq.b, and n may be from 1 to 5;Z=COO.sup.-, SO.sub.4.sup.-, SO.sub.3, PO.sub.3.sup.-, PO.sub.4.sup.-, NR'.sub.3.sup.-, PR'.sub.3.sup.-, OH, polyethers, zwitterions, or polyalcohols;R'=H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 linear or branched hydrocarbon, optionally halogenated, optionally unsaturated provided that the surfactant is not an N-alkanoyl amino acidate; and(b) applying a voltage that causes migration of the chiral compound, thereby separating the constituent enantiomers of the chiral compound.