Abstract
This review outlines the applications of capillary electrophoresis as an analytical technique for optical resolution. The brief separation principles and applications of both capillary zone electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic chromatography for this purpose are described. Capillary zone electrophoresis using unmodified and chemically modified neutral cyclodextrins as chiral selectors added to the background electrolyte is discussed in order to separate ionic enantiomers. The chiral separation results from differences in the inclusion-complex formation of the enantiomers. The effects of the position and degree of substitution of modified cyclodextrins and the addition of modifiers to the electrolyte on the separation are presented. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography using chiral surfactants is described, where the chiral separation is achieved through differences in partitioning of the enantiomers into the chiral micellar phase. The utilization of cyclodextrins together with a micelle of common ionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, is also briefly presented.
