Enantiomeric separation of aminoglutethimide by capillary electrophoresis using native cyclodextrins in single and dual systems

Aminoglutethimide (AGT) is one of the few examples of chiral drugs that can be enantioseparated by capillary electrophoresis using any of the three native cyclodextrins: alpha-, beta-, or gamma-CD. A complete resolution of the enantiomers of this compound in cationic form could be achieved with each of the three CDs, using a pH 3 phosphoric acid-triethanolamine buffer. Affinity constants for AGT enantiomers with the three native CDs were determined, confirming that the highest selectivity was given by gamma-CD while the strongest complexation was obtained with beta-CD. However, an opposite affinity pattern was observed with the latter. Selectivity was lower for AGT enantiomers in dual CD systems, compared to that obtained with a single selector at its optimal concentration, which confirms that dual systems are of more limited interest when the two selectors have a similar effect on the analyte mobility. These results are in good agreement with those predicted using recently developed mathematical models.