Gas phase analytical resolution of enantiomeric amines as diastereomeric amides. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of α-phenylbutyramides, α-phenylpropionamides and α-chlorophenylacetamides

Representative phenylalkylamines (six enantiomeric pairs) and amino acid methyl esters (five enantiomeric pairs) have been examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in the form of their N-(R)-α-phenylbutyryl, N-(S)-α-phenylpropionyl- and N-(R)-α-chlorophenylacetyl derivatives. In most cases, satisfactory gas chromatographic resolution of the diastereomeric amides has been achieved on both SE-30 and OV-17 stationary phases. The phenylbutyramides and phenylpropionamides gave the more informative mass spectra (for characterization of the amines) but molecular ions were observed in all instances.