Gas chromatographic enantiomer separation of C-3 and C-4 synthons: prediction of absolute configuration from elution order and enzymatic resolution

Enantiomers of C-3 secondary alcohols, 3-hydroxybutanoates, and cyclic 1,3-dithioacetals were separated by chiral GLC using CP-Chirasil-Dex CB and Chiraldex G-TA columns. The former was most successful for analysis of n-alkyl esters of secondary alcohols and the separation depended on the chain length of the acyl group and the electronic and steric properties of the other substituents. The Chiraldex G-TA column was efficient for analysis of secondary alcohols, derivatized as their trifluoroacetates. The elution order of the secondary alcohols and the corresponding acetates was always the same with respect to the size of groups connected to the stereocenter. However, when the secondary alcohols were analyzed as their trimethylsilyl derivatives, the elution order was reversed. Elution order on chiral columns and enantiomeric ratios, E-values, obtained in kinetic resolutions catalyzed by lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) were evaluated as a method for prediction of absolute configuration. The usefulness of the method was demonstrated using 22 pairs of enantiomers. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.