True and false reversal of the elution order of barbiturates on a bonded cellulose-based chiral stationary phase.

A set of racemic N-alkylated barbiturates were investigated for their direct enantioselective HPLC separation on a new chiral stationary phase (CSP) containing cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarabamate) immobilized onto silica gel (Chiralpak IB) and its coated version (Chiralcel OD). They were online detected by UV and optical rotation detectors to trace the elution order of their enantiomers. Surprisingly, examples of false and true reversal of the elution order of enantiomers of barbiturates were observed and reported.