Sensitized phosphorescence as detection method for the enantioseparation of bupropion by capillary electrophoresis

A new CE detection method was developed for the chiral drug bupropion (a second-generation antidepressant), based on phosphorescence both in the direct and in the sensitized mode using pulsed laser excitation at 266 nm. Electrokinetic chromatography using 5 mM sulfated-α-CD as chiral selector in 25 mM phosphate buffer at pH 3 allowed the separation of bupropion enantiomers with a high chiral resolution (Rs>3). In the sensitized phosphorescence detection mode, excitation energy is transferred from the analyte to an acceptor (1-bromo-4-napthhalenesulfonic acid or biacetyl) followed by time-resolved phosphorescence detection under deoxygenated buffer conditions. Using 2×10