Antibody mimicking polymers as chiral stationary phases in HPLC

Antibody-mimicking synthetic polymers, selective for various optically active amino acid derivatives and peptides, were prepared by noncovalent molecular imprinting. A novel approach, in which the branched, trifunctional cross-linkers pentaerythritol triacrylate and 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butanol trimethacrylate were copolymerized with methacrylic acid, is described. The polymers were subsequently applied as chiral stationary phases in high-performance liquid chromatography. They were superior to previously reported noncovalent molecularly imprinted polymers used for chiral separations in that they showed considerably higher load capacity, increased selectivity, and better resolving capability.