Cyclodextrins as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis: a comparative study for the enantiomeric separation of some beta-agonists.

A comparative study for the enantiomeric separation of terbutaline, clenbuterol, salbutamol and dobutamine was performed by capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins and their derivatives as chiral selectors. Several parameters such as buffer composition and temperature were studied. Simple, fast and reliable enantioseparations were achieved for all drugs studied, especially when the isomerically pure sulfated beta-cyclodextrin derivatives were used as chiral selectors.