Application of mixtures of tartaric acid derivatives in resolution via supercritical fluid extraction.

Racemic N-methylamphetamine (rac-MA) was resolved with 2R,3R-tartaric acid (TA) and its derivatives (O,O'-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid monohydrate (DBTA) and O,O'-di-p-toluoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid (DPTTA)), individually and using them in different combinations. After partial diastereomeric salt formation, the free enantiomers were extracted by supercritical fluid extraction using carbon dioxide as solvent. DBTA and DPTTA are efficient resolving agents for rac-MA, the best chiral separation being obtained at a molar ratio of 0.