CEC enantioseparations on chiral monolithic columns:: A study of the stereoselective degradation of (R/S)-dichlorprop [2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid] in soil

For the study of the stereoselective degradation of the herbicide 2-aryloxipropionic acid dichlorprop (DCPP) in soil, a porous monolithic chiral column (100 mu m id) was prepared by in situ copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of formamide and 1-propanol as the porogen solvents. Subsequently, the epoxide groups at the surface of the monolith were reacted with (+)-1-(4-aminobutyl)-(5R,8S,10R)-terguride as the chiral selector. Optimum conditions for the herbicide resolution by CEC were found using mobile phases consisting of acetic acid/ triethylamine mixtures in ACN-methanol (9:1 v/v). Under these conditions fully separation of DCPP enantiomers in the presence of clofibric acid (internal standard) was achieved in about 5 min. Experiments on the incubation of rac-DCPP in soil at room temperature showed the herbicide undergone during 23 incubation days to a degradation to levels <= 20% of the initial concentration, with rates for (R)-DCPP slower than (S)-DCPP. More interesting results were observed when herbicide enantiomers were individually incubated. In both the experiments, the formation of the opposite isomer in the presence of the initial one, and reversed enantiomeric interconversion in the case of (S)-DCPP was observed. (R)-DCPP was found to be the most persistent isomer after incubation.