Liquid chromatographic analysis and isolation of diastereoisomers obtained by an aldolization reaction

A new route using an aldolization reaction has been investigated in order to synthesize a precursor of pilocarpin, an alkaloid having sympathomimetic properties. To study the stereoselectivity of this route and to propose a mechanism, liquid chromatography has been used to analyse and to isolate each diastereoisomer for a structural determination by NMR. To further investigate the reaction mechanism, seven different aldehydes (or ketones) were used in the aldolization reaction, producing seven different mixtures. This paper describes the improvement of LC conditions with diol- and amino-bonded silica and the nonaqueous mobile phases required for the isolation of each isomer. Keywords: diastereoisomers, pilocarpin precursor, normal phase liquid chromatography, diol- and amino-bonded silicas.