Enantioselective gas chromatographic analysis of monoterpenes in essential oils of the family Myrtaceae

The elution profiles of several essential oils of the Myrtaceae family were acquired using a single enantioselective stationary phase column. These chromatograms were compared with those obtained by using a two-column coupled system, which comprised a low-polarity stationary phase column connected to the terminal end of the enantioselective column. The enantiomeric distributions of β-pinene, sabinene, α-phellandrene, limonene, trans- and cis-sabinene hydrate, linalool, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol were determined. The use of a two-column coupled system is demonstrated to be useful for improving the resolution of target (chiral) compounds from otherwise interfering matrix components. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.