Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of terbutaline by derivatization with 2,3,4,6-tetra-o-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate.

The enantiomers of the bronchodilator terbutaline were separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate(GITC) reagent. The derivatization proceeded quantitatively within 1 h at room temperature. The corresponding diastereomeric thiourea derivatives were well resolved on an ODS column with acetonitrile-acetate buffer as a mobile phase. Elution orders of the diastereomers were confirmed by derivatization of R-(-)-terbutaline and S-(+)-terbutaline which were collected by semi-preparative chiral HPLC using Sumichiral OA-4700 column. The native fluorescence of terbutaline was quenched by derivatization with GITC. The detection limit was 25 ng when monitored at UV 278 nm.