Abstract
Enantiomers of nine K-region and one non-K-region epoxides of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography with chiral stationary phases either ionically or covalently bonded to γ-aminopropylsilanized silica. Resolution of enantiomers was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible absorption, circular dichroism, and mass spectral analyses. This method has been applied to the determination of optical purity and absolute configuration of the K-region epoxides formed in the metabolism of 1-methylbenz[
a]anthracene, 7-methylbenz[
a]anthracene, and 12-methylbenz[
a]anthracene by rat liver microsomes.