Graphene as Tunable Stationary Phase Additive for Enantioseparation

Graphene-based biosensor and chiral sensor have made significant progress in recent years. Because of the similarity of the optical enantiomers, enantioseparation is perhaps the most subtle to achieve. Developing more effectively chiral separation techniques based on graphene is highly desirable. Herein, pristine graphene was prepared and then applicated to assist resolution of two racemic drugs of propranolol and ofloxacin using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). In comparison with TLC chiral separation by only using pure D-(-)-tartaric acid as a selector with relatively low degree of separation, a mixture of graphene and D-(-)-tartaric acid is more attractive, efficient and ready available. The high specific resolution ability for racemic compounds aided by graphene might allow its potential application in future chiral separation technologies.