Analytical chiral separation of a new quinolone compound in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Two methods for the separation of a new racemic quinolone compound, temafloxacin (TMFX), in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were studied. The first method was coupling of TMFX to S-(-)-N-1-(2-naphthyl sulfonyl)-2-pyrrolidine carbonylchloride (L-NSPC). The diastereomeric derivatives were separated on a silica gel column. The second method was separation on a chiral stationary phase with an ovomucoid conjugated to aminopropyl silica gel. Two enantiospecific methods gave a satisfactory result concerning both accuracy and precision, and the second method was superior to the first one for chromatographic separation. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers after oral administration of racemic TMFX to healthy volunteers was investigated by the second method.