Normal phase HPLC as a model system of specific benzodiazepine-receptor binding.

The hypothesis that benzodiazepines interact with their receptors in the CNS via hydrogen bonding mediated by the carbonyl and imine groups has been studied by correlating a physicochemical parameter affected by hydrogen bonds potentially accepted or donated by benzodiazepines with their binding constants to synaptosomal rat brain membranes. The reference physicochemical system chosen was normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography on mu-Bondapack NH2 (propylamine groups chemically bonded to porous silica) eluted with mixtures of n-hexane and 2-propanol. A strong correlation has been found for binding of the implicated groups to the column and to the receptor.