Direct liquid chromatographic resolution of racemic aminoglutethimide and its acetylated metabolite using a chiral alpha 1-acid glycoprotein column.

A 10-cm long alpha 1-acid glycoprotein column is used for the enantiomeric resolution of the clinically used racemic aminoglutethimide (+/- AG) and its acetylated metabolite (+/- AAG). A direct liquid chromatographic resolution of racemic aminoglutethimide and its acetylated metabolite is accomplished without any derivatizations. Maximum resolutions of 1.37 and 0.73 are obtained for the enantiomers of aminoglutethimide and its acetylated metabolite, respectively. The effect of the 2-propanol content in mobile phase on retention and enantioselectivity of aminoglutethimide and its acetylated metabolite is demonstrated. The variation of the separation factors (alpha) with pH in enantiomeric separation of aminoglutethimide is also shown.