Application of a radial compression column to the high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of some 2-arylpropionic acids as their diastereoisomeric s-(-)-1-(naphthen-1-yl)ethylamines.

The enantiomers of 2-phenylpropionic acid and four congeneric anti-inflammatory drugs were separated as their diastereoisomeric amides with S-(-)-1-(naphthen-1-yl)ethylamine by high-performance liquid chromatography using a silica-packed radial compression cartridge. The order of elution of the diastereoisomeric amides was always R, S or -, S before S,S or +,S. The conditions for the derivatization, using 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl-carbodiimide as coupling agent, were optimized, and it was found that the addition of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole rendered the reaction quantitative. Good calibration curves were obtained for the quantitation and determination of the enantiomeric composition of 2-phenylpropionic acid in urine, and the application of the method to the study of the metabolism of this acid in vivo is described.