Abstract
The separation of the enantiomers of nomifensine maleate, a psychotropic drug, were investigated using achiral and chiral stationary phases Three stationary phases were studied for their ability to separate the enantiomers: reversed phase cyanopropyl with a chiral mobile phase additive; inclusion (cellulose tris 3,5-dimethylphenyl carbonate (chiracel OD); and brush/pirkle type (S-tert-leucine, (R)-1-(α-naphthyl) ethylamine (Sumichiral OA-4700). Changes in mobile phase composition were studied to determine the effect of solvents on the separation of the enantiomers. Baseline separations were achieved for nomifensine enantiomers under isocratic conditions on the cyanopropyl column with 90:10 v/v 0.1% triethylamine-acetonitrile pH 4.0 (adjusted by trifluoroacetic acid) containing 10 mM β-cyclodextrin, on a Chiracel OD column using hexane-absolute methanol (96:4 v/v), and on a Sumichiral OA-4700.column using hexane-dichloroethane-absolute ethanol-trifluoroacetic acid (100:12.5:8.5:0.1v/v/v/v). The flow rates were 0.8 mL/min with detection at 292 nm.