Methods for the analysis of enantiomers of racemic drugs application to pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies

Abstract

Although the existence and differences in biological behavior of optical isomers have long been appreciated, there has been an apparent reluctance to address these differences in pharmacology and the pharmaceutical sciences. At least part of this reluctance arises from the belief that the separation of enantiomers requires highly specialized analytical equipment and expertise. The purpose of this review is to present general principles that allow the separation of stereoisomers and demonstrate that these procedures can be accomplished using available and convenient chromatography techniques.