Fundamentals of enantioselective liquid chromatography

This chapter summarizes the basic mechanisms of enantioseparations in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After a short history of liquid chromatographic separation of enantiomers, the chapter overviews the major type of chiral selectors (CSs) and inert carriers used for the preparation of a chiral stationary phase (CSP). The major effects of mobile phases and mobile phase additives are highlighted. Currently available tools for the thermodynamic treatment of the separation process, their advantages, and bottlenecks are discussed, and kinetic approaches are also briefly overviewed. The final part of the chapter deals with the experimental and theoretical tools currently in use for better understanding of chiral recognition mechanisms at the molecular level.