Metal(II)–ligand molar ratio dependence of enantioseparation of tartaric acid by ligand exchange CE with Cu(II) and Ni(II)– D ‐quinic acid systems

Enantioseparation of tartaric acid by ligand exchange CE with a Cu(II)– D ‐quinic acid system was studied. Racemic tartaric acid was enantioseparated by ligand exchange CE using BGEs containing relatively low Cu(II)– D ‐quinic acid molar ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:3 and high molar ratios ranging from 1:8 to 1:12 but was not enantioseparated using BGEs with medium molar ratios ranging from 1:4 to 1:6. While the migration order of D ‐tartaric acid was prior to L ‐tartaric acid at the lower Cu(II)– D ‐quinic acid molar ratios, the enantiomer migration order was reversed at the higher molar ratios. These results were compared with those for Ni(II)– D ‐quinic acid system. The molar ratio dependence of enantiomer migration order can be attributed to a change in the coordination structure of Cu(II) ion with D ‐quinic acid.