Abstract
Chiral recognition in host-guest complexation and the related systems detected by FAB mass spectrometry was reviewed. Our newly developed methodology, which is called as “enantiomer-labeled guest method”, is largely explained on the basis of both fundamentals and applications. Emphasis is put on the facts that chiral recognition abilities of various hosts toward various guests are easily and reliably determined by the method and the results are straightforwardly compared with each other, or more importantly, with those from thermodynamics in solution using - ΔΔGenan (kcal/mol) values. The chiral hosts examined contain several synthetic crown ethers, natural ionophores, and carbohydrate derivatives. The chiral guests examined contain several amino acid esters and amino acids. Basic concept of the forthcoming “enantiomer-labeled host method” is also stated briefly.
