Ionic liquids (ILs) are low-melting compounds composed entirely of ions
that exist as liquids at room temperature. Chiral ionic liquids (CILs) are a subclass of
ILs that possess chiral characteristics. CILs are gaining immense attention as additives
in enantioseparation techniques, such as capillary electrophoresis (CE). Capillary
electrophoresis is a powerful analytical technique used for the separation of chiral
compounds. CILs can affect the separation process through several mechanisms,
including chiral recognition, modification of electrophoretic mobility, acting as a
unique solvent system, and providing a chiral stationary phase. The use of CILs in the
CE system offers several advantages for enantioseparation, including enhanced
separation selectivity, improved resolution, and expanded applicability to a wide range
of chiral compounds. However, the selection of an appropriate CIL and optimization of
experimental conditions are critical to achieving the desired enantioseparation
performance. Taking into account the blossoming research in the field, the present
chapter summarizes the advancement in the application of CILs in capillary
electrophoretic separations, taking examples from recent literature.
Keywords: Chiral ionic liquids, Chiral recognition, Capillary electrophoresis, Chiral selectors, Enantioseparations.
