The interactions between chiral analytes and chitosan-based chiral stationary phases during enantioseparation.

The goal of the present study was to disclose the interactions between chitosan-type chiral selectors (CSs) and chiral analytes during enantioseparation. Hence, six chitosan 3,6-bis(phenylcarbamate)-2-(cyclohexylmethylurea)s were synthesized and characterized. These chitosan derivatives were employed as CSs with which the corresponding coated-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were prepared. According to the nature and position of the substituents on the phenyl group, the CSs and CSPs were divided into three sets. The counterparts of the three sets were 3,5-diMe versus 3,5-diCl, 4-Me versus 4-Cl and 3-Me versus 3-Cl. The enantioseparation capability of the CSPs was evaluated with high-performance liquid chromatography. The CSPs demonstrated a good enantioseparation capability to the tested chiral analytes. In enantioselectivity, the CSs with 3,5-diCl and with 4-Me roughly were better than the counterparts with 3,5-diMe and with 4-Cl respectively. The CS with 3-Me enantiomerically recognized more analytes than the one with 3-Cl, but showed lower separation factors in more enantioseparations. The acidity of the amide hydrogen in the phenylcarbamates was investigated with density functional theory calculations and 1H NMR measurements. The trend of the acidity variation with different substituents on the phenyl group was confirmed by the retention factors of acetone on the CSPs. Compared the retention factors of analytes on every set of the counterparts, the formation of hydrogen bond (HB) in enantioseparation could be outlined as follows: when the CSs interacted with chiral analytes without reactive hydrogen but with lone paired electrons, the carbamate N‒Hs in the CSs were HB donors and the analytes were HB acceptors; if the CSs interacted with analytes with a reactive hydrogen, the role of the CSs in HB formation was related to the acidity of the reactive hydrogen; the patterns of HB formation between the CSs and analytes were also impacted by compositions of mobile phases, in addition to the nature, number and position of substituents on the phenyl group. Based on the discussion, chiral recognition mechanism could be understood in more detail. Besides, the strategy to improve enantioseparation capability of a CSP by introducing a substituent onto phenyl group was clarified and further comprehended.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan alkyl urea.

Chitosan is a versatile material employed for various purposes in many fields including the development of chiral stationary phases for enantioseparation. Chitosan alkyl urea is a kind of intermediate used to prepare enantioseparation materials. In order to synthesize the intermediates, in the present work, a new way to prepare chitosan alkyl urea has been established: chitosan was first reacted with methyl chloroformate yielding N-methoxyformylated chitosan, which was then converted to chitosan alkyl urea through amine-ester exchange reaction. With a large excess of methyl chloroformate and primary amine of low stereohindrance, the amino group in chitosan could be almost completely converted to ureido group. The as-prepared chitosan alkyl urea derivatives were characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR,(1)H-(1)H COSY and (1)H-(13)C HSQC NMR spectra. The chemical shifts of hydrogen and carbon atoms of glucose unit were assigned. It was found that the degree of substitution was obviously lower if cyclopropyl amine, aniline, tert-butyl amine and diethyl amine were used as reactants for the amine-ester exchange reaction. The reason was explained with the aid of theoretical calculations.

Data of 1H/13C NMR spectra and degree of substitution for chitosan alkyl urea.

The data shown in this article are related to the subject of an article in Carbohydrate Polymers, entitled "Synthesis and characterization of chitosan alkyl urea" [1]. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra of chitosan n-octyl urea, chitosan n-dodecyl urea and chitosan cyclohexyl urea are displayed. The chemical shifts of proton and carbon of glucose skeleton in these chitosan derivatives are designated in detail. Besides, 1H NMR spectra of chitosan cyclopropyl urea, chitosan tert-butyl urea, chitosan phenyl urea and chitosan N,N-diethyl urea and the estimation of the degree of substitution are also presented. The corresponding explanations can be found in the above-mentioned article.