New technique for the determination of interconversion processes based on capillary zone electrophoresis: Studies with axially chiral biphenyls

A new technique is presented for the investigation of the rotational energy barrier of axially chiral biphenyls, based on capillary zone electrophoresis using cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral selectors. Only minute amounts are required for the investigation of dynamic processes with energy barriers of 100–130 kJ/mol. The influence of the chiral selector on the conformational stability of atropisomers can be determined separately for each enantiomer. Additionally, segmentation of the capillary into different buffer zones allows us to exclude any influence of the chiral selector on the rotational energy barrier.