Guaran: A Novel Polysaccharide for Racemate Resolution

Abstract
The polysaccharide, guaran, as a chromatographic media has been shown to exhibit weak chiral discrimination for the enantiomers in a racemate. On covalent binding of quinine to the polysaccharide, the chiral selectivity of guaran is further enhanced. This paper describes the method for covalent binding of quinine as a chiral selector on guaran back bone. Successful application of this new chiral media has been made for effective resolution of racemic mandelic acid and cotton seed pigment, gossypol. Probable mechanism for the chiral selectivity of underivatized and derivatized guaran, has been suggested.