Interconversion of Stereochemically Unstable Chiral Drugs: Utilization of Chromatographic Techniques for the Study of Enantiomerization, Calculation of Thermodynamic Parameters Part I: Theoretical Aspects

Overview

The paper explains the theoretical aspects of the process of enantiomerization and describes its characteristic features (generation of a plateau). In addition, some complications are presented that are produced by enantiomerization either from analytical or pharmacological points of view. It also defines the way of how to calculate energy barriers of enantiomerization according to the methods used for the separation of racemic mixtures (stopped-flow or dynamic chromatography). Mathematic models useful in deconvolution of chromatograms are also described. With the use of dynamic methods it is not possible to quantitatively evaluate the obtained chtromatograms and calculate thermodynamic parameters without computer-assisted deconvolution.

Key words:
enantiomerization – racemization – interconversion – configuration unstable drugs – kinetic rate constants