Abstract:
There are only two ways to increase the amount of sample that can be purified by preparative reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (Prep-RP-HPLC) in a single run: (1) The traditional approach is to use a bigger column (greater amount of stationary phase); and (2) Use displacement chromatography which uses the stationary phase more effectively. This invention describes a unique Prep-RP-HPLC technique that uses a C-18/C-8 derivatized silica coated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt to result in 7 to 12 fold increase in sample loading (of the crude mixture of organic compounds including synthetic crude peptides) in contrast to the conventional Prep-RP-HPLC technique. This increase in sample loading capacity and output is due to the additional surrogate stationary phase characteristic of the C-18/C8 bound quaternary salt. The quaternary surfactant is bound to the C-18/C-8 chains and silanols of the stationary phase.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to purification of organic compounds using surrogate stationary phases on reversed phase columns. Specifically, the invention provides a preparative HPLC method for purification of organic compounds employing reagents selected from hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt as a surrogate stationary phase. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) is used ubiquitously in academic institutions, forensic laboratories, fine chemicals, and pharmaceutical industries etc. for the analysis, characterization, separation, purification and/or isolation of small organic molecules, natural products, and biologically active molecules such as polypeptides, proteins, and nucleotides. In the pharmaceutical industry, analytical RP-HPLC is used for the release and characterization of raw materials, intermediates, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Preparative reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (Prep-RP-HPLC) is used for the commercial production of Peptide APIs, and most other complex APIs that are not amenable to crystallization. 
     Preparative RP-HPLC in the elution mode is limited by the loading capacity of the analyte. In the elution preparative RP-HPLC mode, the typical loading capacity of synthetic peptides is in the range of 1 to 2 mgs per ml of packed column volume (viz., 0.1% to 0.2% with respect to total column volume). 
     The patent application US20120322976 discloses a preparative HPLC of a GLP-1 analog. The loading was 0.225% with respect to total column volume {(about 45 mgs on to a 20 ml C-18 substituted (Octadecyldimethylsilyl) silica resin (particle size: 15 microns)}. 
     The patent application US20110313131 discloses a preparative HPLC of (Aib 8, 35) GLP-1(7-36)-NH2 at loadings up to 20 g/L (2% with respect to total column volume). 
     Recent advances in RP-HPLC have focussed on producing spherical silica and development of new bonding chemistries to furnish stationary supports that have improved stability and selectivity. The earlier supports were irregular silica particles that were derivatized with C-18 or C-8 chains, and they suffered from high back pressure. The high back pressure limited their use with respect to quantity that could be purified in a single run, and to relatively smaller diameter columns. 
     The commercial manufacture of spherical silica that has been derivatized by C-18, C-8, and other ligands has overcome these challenges and has extended the utility of preparative HPLC vastly. These technological advances in the bonded silica supports and process HPLC instrumentation have made possible commercial production of complex peptides such as Fuzeon®, a 36-amino acid peptide, in ton quantities. Unfortunately, these large scale HPLC instruments and the associated column hardware are very costly and restrict the affordability of the methods. 
     Further, RP-HPLC in the displacement mode has better loading capacity than RP-HPLC in the elution mode but it is arduous to develop. The displacement chromatography is best suited for ion exchange mode, and has found numerous recent applications. 
     Displacement chromatography utilizes as mobile phase a displacer solution which has higher affinity for the stationary phase material than do the sample components. The key operational feature which distinguishes displacement chromatography from elution chromatography is the use of a displacer molecule. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,262 discloses low molecular weight displacers for protein purification in hydrophobic interaction and reverse phase chromatographic systems. 
     In displacement chromatography separations, the sample components are introduced in the form of homogeneous sample solution, so that individual components are each delivered at a constant concentration throughout the sample application step. The driving force for separation is that weak binders are displaced from the limited number of binding sites on the stationary phase material by more strongly binding components of the product mixture. This proceeds in a continuous manner until the product and other stronger binders are fully retarded in the earlier part of the chromatography bed, thus permitting the more weakly binding impurities to stay bound to the stationary phase material further along the chromatography bed. Once all sample molecules are bound to the stationary phase, no further movement of these molecules will be observed. A problem which may occur because of such use of homogeneous sample solutions, however, is that molecules of strongly binding components introduced during an early part of sample application may inadvertently be displaced by weaker binders introduced during a later stage of sample application. 
     Therefore there is a need for a simple, cost effective and scalable Prep-RP-HPLC process for peptides. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel method of purification of organic compounds including peptides using Preparative Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Prep-RP-HPLC) technique. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a method for purification of organic compounds including peptides which has 7 to 10 times greater sample loading capacity, and output compared to the traditional Prep-RP-HPLC technique. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide such method using surfactants as surrogate stationary phases (SSPs)/additional stationary phases (ASPs). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention provides a method for purifying a multicomponent sample by reverse phase chromatography comprising:
     (a) configuring a chromatographic system having a hydrophobic stationary phase;   (b) saturating the chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt;   (c) optionally washing the column after the step (b) with a buffer; and   (d) applying a multicomponent sample to one end of the chromatographic bed comprising of stationary phase saturated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (e) eluting the multicomponent sample in a buffer;   (f) recovering the desired component of the sample.   

     In another aspect the invention provides a method for purifying a multicomponent sample by reverse phase chromatography comprising:
     (a) configuring a chromatographic system having a hydrophobic stationary phase;   (b) saturating the chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt;   (c) optionally washing the column after the step (b) with a buffer;   (d) applying a multicomponent sample to one end of the chromatographic bed comprising of stationary phase saturated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (e) eluting the multicomponent sample in a buffer containing quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (f) recovering the desired component of the sample.   

     In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for purifying a multicomponent sample by reverse phase chromatography comprising:
     (a) configuring a chromatographic system having a hydrophobic stationary phase;   (b) saturating the chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt;   (c) optionally washing the column after the step (b) with a buffer;   (d) applying a multicomponent sample to one end of the chromatographic bed comprising of stationary phase saturated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (e) eluting the multicomponent sample in a buffer;   (f) recovering the desired component of the sample;   (g) treating the equilibrated chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt with sodium tetrafluoroborate; and   (h) washing the treated chromatographic stationary phase after step (g) with a solvent to recover the chromatographic stationary phase from the quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt.   

     Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a preparative HPLC method for purification of organic compounds wherein the method has following advantages (1) increased loading (2) limited use of solvents (3) reduced waste disposal (4) ease of operation, and (5) reduced scale of the equipment utilized to chromatograph, elute, concentrate and recover the desired components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate obtained using the present invention. A Discovery Bio Wide Pore (10 mm×250 mm, C18, 5 u, and 300{acute over (Å)} pore diameter) column was used for the Prep-RP-HPLC process. 
         FIG. 2 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate obtained using the present invention. A Waters Symmetry (19 mm×50 mm, C8, 5 u, 120 {acute over (Å)}pore diameter) column was used for the Prep-RP-HPLC process. 
         FIG. 3 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate by obtained using standard (conventional) preparative RP-HPLC technique. A YMC, ODS-AQ (50 mm×250 mM, C18, 10μ, 120° A pore diameter [see comparative example] was used for the Prep-RP-HPLC process. 
         FIG. 4 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate (pooled preparative HPLC fractions that were greater than 95% pure) obtained using tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBA-Br) and a Grace Vydac C18 column (40 micron particles). 
         FIG. 5 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate (pooled preparative HPLC fractions that were greater than 95% pure) obtained using tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBA-HS) and a Grace Vydac C18 column (40 micron particles). 
         FIG. 6 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate (pooled preparative HPLC fractions that were greater than 95% pure) obtained using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTA-Br) and a Grace Vydac C-18 column (40 micron particles). 
         FIG. 7 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate (pooled preparative HPLC fractions that were greater than 95% pure) obtained using tetra-n-butylphosphonium chloride (TBP-Cl) and a Grace Vydac C-18 column (40 micron particles). 
         FIG. 8 : Analytical RP-HPLC profile of Leuprolide acetate (pooled preparative HPLC fractions that were greater than 95% pure) obtained using tetra-n-butylammonium chloride (TBA-Cl) and a Grace Vydac C-18 column (40 micron particles). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First embodiment of the present invention provides a preparative HPLC method for purification of organic compounds employing quaternary ammonium salt as a surrogate stationary phase, wherein the chromatographic stationary phase is hydrophobic. 
     The quaternary ammonium salt of the present invention has the structure as mentioned below: 
                                
wherein R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3  is selected independently from the group comprising straight or branched alkyl, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic group, alkyl substituted aromatic group, aryl substituted alkyl groups; the anion denoted as B herein in the compound represented by the formula (1) includes bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, dicyanamide, halogens, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, thiocyanate, dimethylphosphate, diethylphosphorodithioate, amino acids, etc. Preferably quaternary ammonium salts are tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen sulfate, tetra-n-butyl-ammonium hydroxide, tetra-n-octylammonium bromide, methyltrioctylammonium chloride, myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. Most preferably tetra-n-octylammonium bromide
 
     Second embodiment of the present invention provides a preparative HPLC method for purification process of organic compounds employing quaternary phosphonium salt as a surrogate stationary phase in hydrophobic stationary phases, preferably C-18, C-4 and C-8 hydrophobic stationary phase. 
     The quaternary phosphonium salt of the present invention has the structure as mentioned below, 
                                
wherein R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3  is selected independently from the group comprising straight or branched alkyl, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic group, alkyl substituted aromatic group, aryl substituted alkyl groups; the anion denoted as B herein in the compound represented by the formula (II) includes bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, dicyanamide, halogens, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, thiocyanate, dimethylphosphate, diethylphosphorodithioate, ethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, ethyltriphenylphosphoniumiodide, butyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, triphenylphosphonium bromide, butyltriphenylphosphonium chloride.
 
     According to the process of the invention, the concentration of the organic modifier is held at a sufficiently low concentration to ensure/enforce strong binding of the analytes to the stationary phase (s). 
     The surrogate stationary phase in the present invention refers to a modified hydrophobic stationary phase that is formed after equilibrating the chromatographic hydrophobic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt. 
     The method of the present invention is distinguished from the prior art displacement chromatography in the following way: the method of the present invention for purifying a peptide by reverse phase chromatography involves the step of applying to the hydrophobic stationary phase a mixture comprising organic compounds to be separated after the addition of the additional (surrogate) stationary phase with or without the organic modifier, whereas the reverse phase displacement chromatography as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,262, PCT publications WO2013052539 and WO2013052087, for separating organic compounds from a mixture involves the step of applying to the hydrophobic stationary phase a mixture comprising organic compounds to be separated before the addition of the displacer with or without the organic modifier. 
     In various embodiments, the gradient elution can be accomplished, for example, stepwise, linearly, with multi segmented linear or stepwise changes in composition, or with a combination thereof. In one aspect, gradient elution is performed with increasing amounts of an organic modifier and elution is completed in greater than about 10%, greater than about 20%, greater than about 30%, greater than about 90%, or up to and including about 100% of the organic modifier. In certain aspects, elution is completed with decreasing amount of organic modifier, e.g., less than about 20%, less than about 15%, less than about 10%, less than about 5%, less than about 2%, less than about 1% or about 0% of organic modifier. 
     The organic modifier in the present invention refers to a solvent or a compound which can be used in chromatographic procedures and like separation methods, to alter the properties of the mobile phase to controllably effect serial elution of desired materials. In one aspect, an organic modifier decreases ionic interactions between molecules in the mobile phase and the stationary phase. For example, in one aspect, an organic modifier comprises a solvent added to a mobile phase to decrease its polarity. Suitable organic modifiers include, but are not limited to, acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol or isopropanol. The separating can be accomplished with any suitable solvent or solvent combination. 
     The nature of the library comprising the multicomponent mixture useful to be separated in the present invention system essentially is unlimited. Thus, mixtures of organic compounds may be used. Digests of biopolymers, either natural or synthetic, are particularly attractive. Such digests may comprise mixtures of peptides, polysaccharides, polynucleotides, various derivatized forms thereof, and variously sized fragments thereof. The biopolymers may be extracted from plant or animal tissues, diseased or healthy, digested if necessary, or used as is. Such libraries are available in abundance, easy to prepare, may be of lower toxicity and more stable than synthetic peptides, and may be varied and screened systematically. 
     In an embodiment, the concentration of the quaternary ammonium salt or hydrophobic quaternary phosphonium salt in the organic modifier is increased to effect elution of the analytes. The organic modifier may be used with or without the quaternary ammonium salt or the hydrophobic quaternary phosphonium salt. 
     Third embodiment of the present invention is to provide a process for the removal of the reagents such as hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium from the C-18 or C-8 column by employing sodium tetrafluoroborate or potassium hexafluorophosphate with organic modifier. 
     The fourth embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method for purifying a multicomponent sample by reverse phase chromatography comprising:
     (a) configuring a chromatographic system having a hydrophobic stationary phase;   (b) saturating the chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt;   (c) optionally washing the column after the step (b) with a buffer to remove any unbound quaternary salt;   (d) applying a multicomponent sample to one end of the chromatographic bed comprising of stationary phase saturated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (e) eluting the multicomponent sample in a buffer; and   (f) recovering the desired component of the sample.   

     In another aspect, the invention provides a method for purifying a multicomponent sample by reverse phase chromatography comprising:
     (a) configuring a chromatographic system having a hydrophobic stationary phase;   (b) saturating the chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt;   (c) optionally washing the column after the step (b) with a buffer to remove any unbound quaternary salt;   (d) applying a multicomponent sample to one end of the chromatographic bed comprising of stationary phase saturated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (e) eluting the multicomponent sample in a buffer containing quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (f) recovering the desired component of the sample.   

     In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for purifying a multicomponent sample by reverse phase chromatography comprising:
     (a) configuring a chromatographic system having a hydrophobic stationary phase;   (b) saturating the chromatographic stationary phase with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt;   (c) optionally washing the column after the step (b) with a buffer to remove any unbound quaternary salt;   (d) applying a multicomponent sample to one end of the chromatographic bed comprising of stationary phase saturated with a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt; and   (e) eluting the multicomponent sample in a buffer;   (f) recovering the desired component of the sample;   (g) treating the chromatography stationary phase saturated/coated with quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt with sodium tetrafluoroborate; and   (h) washing the treated chromatographic stationary phase after step g with a solvent to recover the chromatographic stationary phase from the quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt.   

     Conventional RPLC hardware systems may be used for the separation, and the term “configuring a chromatographic system” refers to setting up a column or system of column, pump and detector as is well known in the art. 
     The term “saturating the chromatographic stationary phase” refers to passing the quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt in a solution over the stationary phase in a particular concentration, thereby preparing the surrogate stationary phase. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein preparative HPLC method for purification of organic compounds maintains a low concentration of the organic modifier to retain the surrogate stationary phase on the column. The said conditions are required for the interaction of surrogate stationary phase with solute along with interaction with C-18, C-4 and C-8 ligands. 
     Some aspects and embodiments of this disclosure are described in the examples below, which are provided only for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner. 
     Illustrative Example of the Present Invention 
     The C-18/C-8 reversed phase column is equilibrated with 5 to 10 column volumes (V c s) of 5 to 10% aqueous acetonitrile containing 10 mM tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen sulphate (TBAHS, Buffer A). The pH of the starting buffer was not adjusted, and was about 1.95 (It is important to keep the concentration of acetonitrile lower than the concentration needed to elute the product on an analytical HPLC column). The crude compound to be purified was dissolved in starting buffer A or aqueous TFA or aqueous HOAc and loaded on to the column. After the loading is complete, the column is equilibrated with 2 Column V c s of Buffer A. Next, the gradient elution process is started. The buffer B is usually 300 mM to 500 mM TBAHS in 5 to 10% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% B to 100% Buffer B over 10 V c s is applied. When the product of interest (API) is about to elute, a gradient hold may be applied until all the API has eluted from the column. Alternately if it is desired to elute the product in a concentrated form the gradient may be allowed to run its course. The fractions containing the pure API product are combined after confirming that the pooled fraction meets the purification criteria. The approximate quantity of the associated TBAHS is calculated. This is then treated with 1.5 to 2 equivalents of sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF 4 ) and extracted 3 times with chloroform to remove the TBA cation as its tetrafluoroborate salt. The aqueous residue is then loaded on to a C-18/C-8 column from which all the TBAHS (quaternary ammonium/phosphonium salt) has been removed. Removal of TBAHS from the C-18/C-8 column is accomplished by the following steps: The column is first washed with at least 3 V c s of 80% Acetonitrile-20% Water. Next, the column is washed with 3V c s of 100 mM NaBF 4  in 80% Acetonitrile-20% water. The column is equilibrated with 1M Acetic Acid in 1% Aqueous Acetonitrile (10 V c s). The aqueous phase containing “pure API” and excess NaBF 4  is diluted with water (5× its volume) and loaded on to the C-18/C-8 column on to the column. The column is washed with 5 to 10 V c s of 1% phosphoric acid-1% Acetonitrile-98% Water to exchange the BF 4  anions for phosphate anions. The column is then washed with 5 to 10 V c s of 100 mM aqueous Guanidine. HCl to remove the phosphate anions and to exchange the phosphate anions to chloride anions. Finally the chloride anions are exchanged for acetate anions. The fractions containing the “pure product acetate salt” are combined, and the organic volatiles are removed under reduced pressure. The aqueous residue is lyophilized or precipitated after removal of water. The final API is analysed according to the USP/EP Methods of Analysis. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Purification of Leuprolide: Comparison of the Surrogate Stationary 
               
               
                 Phase aided Prep-RP-HPLC with the Standard Prep-RP-HPLC 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Total 
                   
                   
                   
                 % 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Column 
                 Column 
                 Input: 
                 Output: 
                   
                 Purity by 
                 Relative 
               
               
                 Entry 
                 Prep RP- 
                 dimensions; 
                 volume 
                 Crude 
                 Pure 
                 % 
                 HPLC (USP 
                 Loading 
               
               
                 # 
                 HPLC method 
                 (ID × L) 
                 (mL) 
                 API (g) 
                 API (g) 
                 Yield 
                 method) 
                 Capacity 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1. 
                 Standard RP- 
                 YMC, ODS-AQ 
                 490.0 
                 4.0 g 
                  1.2 g 
                 30.0% 
                 99.86 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 HPLC 
                 (50 mm × 250 mm, 
               
               
                   
                 [Comparative 
                 C18, 10 u, 120 Å 
               
               
                   
                 example] 
                 pore diameter) 
               
               
                 2. 
                 SSP- 
                 Waters Symmetry 
                 14.2 
                 1.4 g 
                 0.42 g 
                 30.0% 
                 99.79 
                 12.1 
               
               
                   
                 Purification 
                 (19 mm × 50 mm, 
               
               
                   
                 method 
                 C8, 5 u, 120 Å 
               
               
                   
                 [TBAHS-SSP] 
                 pore diameter) 
               
               
                 3. 
                 SSP- 
                 Discovery Bio 
                 19.6 
                 1.2 g 
                 0.32 g 
                 26.7% 
                 99.73 
                 6.7 
               
               
                   
                 Purification 
                 Wide Pore 
               
               
                   
                 method 
                 (10 mm × 250 mm, 
               
               
                   
                 [TBAHS-SSP] 
                 C18, 5 u, 300 Å 
               
               
                   
                   
                 pore diameter) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The purified product (Leuprolide) output of the standard Prep-RP-HPLC is 2.45 mg/mL of column volume: In contrast the purified product output of the surrogate stationary phase aided Prep-RP-HPLC is 29.6 mg/mL of column volume (table 1, entry 2) and 16.3 mg/mL of column volume (table 1, entry 3). These results suggest that loadings of 7 to 12 times capacity of conventional prep-RP-HPLC are achievable with the processes described in the present invention. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Example-1: Preparative RP-HPLC of Leuprolide Acetate 
     Two different columns were evaluated for the purification of Leuprolide: A Discovery Bio Wide Pore column {column parameters: 10 mm (ID)×250 mm (L), C18, 5 u particles, 300{acute over (Å)} pore diameter, Amount loaded was 1.2 g of crude Leuprolide (prepared by solution phase synthesis) and a Waters Symmetry Column {column parameters: 19 mm (Internal Diameter, ID)×50 mm (Length, L), C8, 5 u particles, 120 {acute over (Å)}pore diameter, Amount loaded was 1.4 g of crude Leuprolide (prepared by solution phase synthesis) were used. The column was pre-equilibrated with 5 to 10 column volumes (V c s) of 10 mM TBAHS in 10% aqueous acetonitrile (Buffer A). After the loading was complete, the column was washed with 2 V c s of Buffer A. Next, the gradient elution process was started. The buffer B was 300 mM TBAHS in 10% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% B to 100% Buffer B over 60 min. was used for elution. A gradient hold was applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fractions containing the pure API product were combined and treated with 1.5 to 2 equivalents of sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF 4 ) and extracted 3 times with chloroform. The entire purification process was repeated 3 times to demonstrate and confirm the consistent performance. Fractions containing “pure Leuprolide” were combined and loaded on to a C-18 column from which all the TBAHS had been removed as described before. 
     The conversion of phosphate/hydrogen sulphate anions to acetate anions was done as described earlier. Fractions containing pure Leuprolide Acetate API were lyophilized. The purification yield was about 30%. (TBA-HS herein denotes tetra-n-butyl-ammonium hydrogen sulphate) 
     Example-2: Preparative RP-HPLC of Triptorelin Acetate 
     The C-18/C-8 reversed phase column was pre-equilibrated with 5 to 10 V c s of 5 to 10% aqueous acetonitrile containing 10 mM TBAHS (Buffer A). A Discovery Bio Wide Pore column {column parameters: 10 mm (ID)×250 mm (L), C18, 5 u particles, 300{acute over (Å)} pore diameter, Amount loaded was 1.0 g of crude Triptorelin} was used. After the loading was complete, the column was washed with 2 V c s of Buffer A. Next, the gradient elution process was started. The buffer B was 300 mM TBAHS in 10% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% B to 100% Buffer B over 60 min. was used for elution. A gradient hold was applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fractions containing the pure API product were combined and treated with 1.5 to 2 equivalents of sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF 4 ) and extracted 3 times with chloroform. The entire purification process was repeated 3 times to demonstrate and confirm the consistent performance. Fractions containing “pure Triptorelin” were combined and loaded on to a C-18 column from which all the TBA-HS had been removed as described before. 
     The conversion of phosphate/hydrogen sulphate anions to acetate anions was done as described earlier. Fractions containing pure Triptorelin API were lyophilized. The purification yield was about 25%. (TBAHS herein denotes tetra-n-butyl-ammonium hydrogen sulphate) 
     Example-3: Preparative RP-HPLC of Leuprolide Acetate Employing Tetra-n-Butylammonium Bromide (TBA-Br) 
     The C-18 reverse phased column [Grace Vydac Column parameters 12 g of C-18, 40 microns particles, 60 Å pore diameter] was saturated with 36 g of TBA-Br in 360 mL of water at the flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The column was then equilibrated 10 V c s with Buffer A (25 mM TBA-Br in water) at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The crude leuprolide trifluoroacetate salt was dissolved in Buffer A and loaded on to the column. After the loading is complete, the gradient elution process was started. The Buffer B is 25 mM of TBA-Br in 50% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% of Buffer B to 100% of Buffer B over 10 V c s was applied. When Leuprolide is about to elute, a gradient hold may be applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fraction containing the pure Leuprolide is combined after confirming the purity on an analytical HPLC. Yield: 66.4%. Herein TBA-Br is tetra-n-butylammonium bromide. 
     Removal of TBA-Br from the C-18 column: The column was first washed with at least 5 V c s of 0.1 M sodium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile and water (8:2) followed by aqueous acetonitrile. 
     Example-4: Preparative RP-HPLC of Leuprolide Acetate Employing Tetra-n-Butylammonium Hydrogen Sulfate (TBA-HS) 
     The C-18 reverse phased column [Grace Vydac Column parameters 12 g of C-18, 40 microns particles, 60 Å pore diameter] was saturated with a solution of 36 g of TBA-HS in 360 mL of water at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The column was then equilibrated with Buffer A (25 mM TBA-HS in water) about 10 V c s at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The crude leuprolide trifluoroacetate salt was dissolved in Buffer A and loaded on to the column. After the loading is complete, the gradient elution process was started. The Buffer B is 25 mM of TBA-HS in 50% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% of Buffer B to 100% of Buffer B over 10 V c s was applied. When Leuprolide is about to elute, a gradient hold may be applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fractions containing the pure Leuprolide are combined after confirming the purity on an analytical HPLC. Yield: 64.4%. Herein TBAHS is tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen sulfate. 
     Removal of TBA-HS from the C-18 column: The column was first washed with at least 5 column volumes of 0.1M sodium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile and water (8:2) followed by aqueous acetonitrile. 
     Example-5: Preparative RP-HPLC of Leuprolide Acetate Employing Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTA-Br) 
     The C-18 reverse phased column [Grace Vydac Column parameters 12 g of C-18, 40 microns particles, 60 Å pore diameter] was saturated with solution of 1 mM CTA-Br in water at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The column was then equilibrated with Buffer A (5 mM CTA-Br in water) about 10 V c s at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The crude leuprolide trifluoroacetate salt was dissolved in Buffer A and loaded on to the column. After the loading is complete, the gradient elution process was started. The Buffer B is 5 mM of CTA-Br in 50% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% of Buffer B to 100% of Buffer B over 10 V c s was applied. When Leuprolide is about to elute, a gradient hold may be applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fractions containing the pure Leuprolide are combined after confirming the purity on an analytical HPLC. Yield: 61.4%. Herein CTA-Br is cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. 
     Removal of CTA-Br from the C-18 column: The column was first washed with at least 5 V c s of 0.1M sodium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile and water (8:2) followed by aqueous acetonitrile. 
     Example-6: Preparative RP-HPLC of Leuprolide Acetate Employing Tetra-n-Butylphosphonium Chloride (TBP-Cl) 
     The C-18 reverse phased column [Grace Vydac Column parameters 12 g of C-18, 40 microns particles, 60 Å pore diameter] was saturated with solution of 36 g of TBP-Cl in 360 ml of water at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The column was then equilibrated with Buffer A (25 mM TBP-Cl in water) about 10 V c s at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The crude leuprolide trifluoroacetate salt was dissolved in Buffer A and loaded on to the column. After the loading is complete, the gradient elution process was started. The Buffer B is 25 mM of TBP-Cl in 50% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% of Buffer B to 100% of Buffer B over 10 Column volumes was applied. When Leuprolide is about to elute, a gradient hold may be applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fractions containing the pure Leuprolide are combined after confirming the purity on an analytical HPLC. Yield: 60.3%. Herein TBP-Cl is tetra-n-butylphosphonium chloride. 
     Removal of TBP-Cl from the C-18 column: The column was first washed with at least 5 V c s of 0.1M sodium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile and water (8:2) followed by aqueous acetonitrile. 
     Example-7: Preparative RP-HPLC of Leuprolide Acetate Employing Tetra-n-Butylammonium Chloride (TBA-Cl) 
     The C-18 reverse phased column [Grace Vydac Column parameters 12 g of C-18, 40 microns particles, 60 Å pore diameter] was saturated with 36 gm of TBA-Cl in 360 ml of water at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The column was then equilibrated with Buffer A (25 mM TBA-Cl in water) about 10 V c s at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/min. The crude leuprolide trifluoroacetate salt was dissolved in Buffer A and loaded on to the column. After the loading is complete, the gradient elution process was started. The Buffer B is 25 mM of TBA-Cl in 50% aqueous acetonitrile. A linear gradient of 0% of Buffer B to 100% of Buffer B over 10 V c s was applied. When Leuprolide is about to elute, a gradient hold may be applied until all the API has eluted from the column. The fractions containing the pure Leuprolide are combined after confirming the purity on an analytical HPLC. Yield: 53.5%. Herein TBA-Cl is tetra-n-butylammonium chloride. 
     Removal of TBA-Cl from the C-18 column: The column was first washed with at least 5 V c s of 0.1M sodium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile and water (8:2) followed by aqueous acetonitrile.