Enantiomeric Resolution of (RS)-Naproxen and Application of (S)- Naproxen in the Direct and Indirect Enantioseparation of Racemic Compounds by Liquid Chromatography: A Review

(S)-Naproxen (Npx), an α-aryl propionic acid derivative, belongs to the class of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and is easily available in pure (S)-form. (S)-Npx has been used as a chiral selector for chromatographic separation of a variety of racemates, using both direct and indirect methods, and has been found to be useful and successful as a basic chiral moiety. This review article describes methods for enantioseparation of (RS)-Npx, development of chiral stationary phases based on (S)-Npx and preparation of novel chiral derivatizing reagents synthesized from (S)-Npx along with their application for enantioseparation of several pharmaceutically important racemates.