Based on the chiral ligand exchange, the distribution behavior of mandelic acid enantiomers, and the partition of Cu2+ at different pH values were studied in a water/alcohol two-phase system containing Cu2+ and N-n-（dodecyl-L-proline（A）.） The influences of the solvent sort, the pH value, the concentrations of Cu2+ and chiral ligand on the partition coefficient（K） and separation factor（α） were discussed. The experimental results show that the A formed has more stable ternary complex with D-mandelic acid enantiomer than with L-mandelic acid enantiomer. There is an important influence of the pH value on K and α. When the pH values are less than 3.5, the formation of binary complexes is thermodynamically unfavourable. K and α become maximum when pH values are above 3.5 and the molar ratio of the chiral ligand to Cu2+ is 2∶1.
In order to set up a simple and effective method for resolution of optical isomers, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was bonded to silica-gel, which can be used for preparation of thin-layer chromatography plates. Resolution of clenbuterol and propranolol were investigated on these thin-layer chromatography plates using different combinations of solvent systems at ambient temperature. The best simultaneous resolution was achieved in solvent system of acetonitrilen-butanol （50：50, v/v）. Rst values of resolution of clenbuterol hydrochloride and propranolol hydrochloride are 3.6 and 4.3, respectively. The spots of different enantiomers are separated clearly. The results showed that hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin bonded silica-gel could be successful in resolution of chiral adrenergic drugs. The study offers a direct, rapid and reliable method for separation of this kind of optically active compounds.
