Chiral Separation by GC

Enantioselective gas chromatography (chiral gas chromatography) is a highly versatile technique to separate volatile chiral compounds on an analytical and even preparative scales. Because of the excellent separation efficiencies of gas chromatography, enantiomeric ratios (er) of chiral compounds can be determined with high precision, which is of scientific, industrial, and economic importance. This was enabled only by the development of highly selective chiral stationary phases. Thereby the elucidation and understanding of recognition mechanisms between analyte and selector and the involved supramolecular interactions of separation mechanisms led to the development of new chiral stationary phases. Chiral gas chromatographic techniques and methods are broadly used in the analysis of chiral precursors and reaction products in asymmetric synthesis, and in the identification and characterization of volatile chiral flavors, food additives, drugs, and metabolites. Chiral gas chromatography has enabled and fostered important research areas, such as asymmetric synthesis and catalysis in organic, medicinal, pharmaceutical, and supramolecular chemistry. This chapter gives an overview over the most important chiral stationary phases used in gas chromatography to separate chiral compounds. The applications serve as a practical guide for separations of chiral compound classes and substances.