Molecular modeling of enantiomeric resolution of methylphenidate on cellulose tris benzoate chiral stationary phase

The enantiomeric resolution of (±)-threo methylphenidate (MPH) (Ritalin®) has been achieved on Chiralcel OB column using the mobile phase hexane-ethanol-methanol-trifluoroacetic acid (480:9.75:9.75:0.5, v/v/v/v), containing benzoic acid and phenol as mobile phase additives. Ultraviolet detection was carried out at 230nm. Molecular modeling was carried out to explain the chiral resolution mechanism of MPH enantiomers.