A novel HPLC support material was prepared by the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) self-assembly technique. Fabrication of multilayers of nanometer- scale zirconia particles on 5μm silica spheres via sequential electrostatic adsorption of surfactant and zirconia sol from dilute aqueous solution was described. The support prepared by this method is of larger surface area, lower density, better permeability, less background pressure for chiral separation. The larger specific surface area of the material permits higher level amount of chiral polymer coated on the support, increasing the enantioselectivity and chiral resolution for desired separation. Direct optical resolutions of a- biphenyl dicarboxylate compounds on the phase of 20% (w/w) cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC) coated zirconia/silica were obtained under normal mode by HPLC. Influence of solvent polarity and the second polar modifier in mobile phase on chromatographic behavior and chiral separation of the analytes was investigated. The chiral recognition mechanism of the chiral stationary phase was discussed. Better enantioseparation for a-biphenyl dicarboxylate compounds was achieved on CDMPC-ZrO_2/SiQ_2 phase than on CDMPC-ZrO2 phase.

Key words: HPLC, CELLULOSE, CARBAMIC ACID ESTER, biphenyl dicarboxylate, LIVER DISEASES, ZIRCONIUM OXIDE, SILICON