Thin-layer chromatography--a useful technique for the separation of enantiomers

Separation of enantiomers has become a well-established technique in many fields of science over the last decade. Unfortunately, even though there are a large number of chiral stationary phases able to perform enantiomeric separation, there is still a great deal of trial and error in developing a method for the separation of enantiomers. Thin-layer chromatography is a very versatile technique, which has brought much advancement in various fields of science. The simplicity of the technique makes it amenable for separation of enantiomers. This paper will present a review of the literature concerning separation of enantiomers. Because of the process of trial and error present in developing a chiral separation method, this paper also presents the mechanism underlying each form of separation. Thus, the methods are presented according to the main mechanism governing the particular separation.