Dextrin sulfopropyl ether: A novel anionic chiral buffer additive for enantiomer separation by electrokinetic chromatography

Dextrin 10 sulfopropyl ether (DSPE) was prepared and characterized by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using a recently developed matrix. The anionic compound was used as a novel chiral buffer additive for enantiomer separation by capillary electrophoresis, thereby changing into the elektrokinetic chromatography (EKC) mode. DSPE was systematically evaluated as a chiral selector and was compared to the respective nonderivatized maltodextrin. DSPE showed an increased separation power for cationic racemic solutes. Although not quite as versatile and powerful as cyclodextrins, the inexpensive dextrin 10 and its derivative DSPE showed remarkable enantioselectivity in some cases.