Combined approach using capillary electrophoresis and NMR spectroscopy for an understanding of enantioselective recognition mechanisms by cyclodextrins.

This tutorial review describes the contribution of chiral capillary electrophoresis in combination with other instrumental techniques, especially nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, to a better understanding of the chiral recognition mechanisms by cyclodextrins. Aspects such as affinity pattern of enantiomers towards various cyclodextrins as well as the stoichiometry of the resulting complexes, the equilibrium constants and the structure of complexes are addressed. In addition to the aforementioned techniques, the usefulness of complementary instrumental and molecular modeling techniques for an understanding of the chiral recognition mechanisms of cyclodextrins is also illustrated.