Resolution of propranolol and atenolol enantiomers on β-cyclodextrin-impregnated silica gel layers

Enantiomeric resolution of two commonly used β-blockers, namely, (±)-propranolol and (±)-atenolol, has been achieved on silica gel layers which were bulkimpregnated with β-cyclodextrin. Solvent systems DMF-ethyl acetate-butanol (3:2:5, υ/υ) and butanol-acetic acid-ethyl acetate-ammonia (5:2:2:0.5, υ/υ) successfully resolved the enantiomers of (±)-propranolol and (±)-atenolol, respectively. The spots were located with iodine vapor. The effects of concentration of the chiral selector and mobile phase variation were also studied.