Characterization of calixarene‐bonded stationary phases

Calixarene‐bonded stationary phases received growing interest in HPLC as stationary phases with special retention characteristics and selectivity. The commercially available unsubstituted and p‐tert‐butyl‐substituted Caltrex^® columns have been intensively studied and characterized in our workgroup. They can be used as reversed phases, yet they support additional interactions. Especially, their steric, polar and ionic properties differ from conventional alkyl‐bonded phases. However, also the hydrophobic interaction shows differences since adsorption and partition interactions on or in a bonded layer of calixarenes are not similar to those of alkyl‐bonded layers. The relative strength of the hydrophobic properties of the stationary phases has been found depending on the methanol concentration of the mobile phase. Generally, the dependencies of their interaction strengths on mobile‐phase conditions, e.g. the change of the intensity of the hydrogen‐bonding abilities with decreasing methanol content, are not similar from phase to phase either. This probably gives calixarene‐bonded stationary phases enhanced suitability for analyses at extreme compositions of the mobile phase. An overview about the synthesis, retention and selectivity properties of Caltrex^® columns is given here.     

Retention properties of novel β-CD bonded stationary phases in reversed-phase HPLC mode

With the given special structures, the CD bonded stationary phases are expected to have complementary retention properties with conventional C18 stationary phase, which will be helpful to enhance the polar selectivity in RP mode separation. In this work, two β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) bonded stationary phases for reversed-phase HPLC, including 1, 12-dodecyldiol linked β-CD stationary phase (CD1) and olio (ethylene glycol) (OEG) linked β-CD stationary phase (CD2), have been synthesized via click chemistry. The resulting materials were characterized with FT-IR and elemental analysis, which proved the successful immobilization of ligands. The similarities and differences in retention characteristics between the CD and C18 stationary phases have been elucidated by using comparative linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs). The force related to solute McGowan volume has no significant difference, while the hydrogen bonding and dipolar interactions between solutes and CD stationary phases are stronger than between solutes and C18, which is attributed to the special structures (CD and triazole groups) of CD stationary phases. Chemical origins are interpreted by comparison between CD1 and CD2. Similar dispersive interactions of CD1 and CD2 are attributed to their similar length of spacer arms. CD2 which contains OEG spacer arm has relative weaker HBD acidity but stronger HBA basicity. CD stationary phases display no serious different methylene selectivity and higher polar selectivity than in the case of C18. Higher acid selectivity and lower basic selectivity are observed on CD2 than on CD1. Distinctive retention properties and good complementary separation selectivity to C18 make the novel CD bonded stationary phases available for more application in RPLC.     

Selectivity of calixarene‐bonded silica phases in HPLC: Description of special characteristics with a multiple term linear equation at different methanol concentrations

Retention and selectivity characteristics of different calixarene‐, resorcinarene‐ and alkyl‐bonded stationary phases are examined by analyzing a set of test solutes covering the main interactions (hydrophobic, steric, ionic, polar) that apply in HPLC. Therefore Dolan and Snyder's multiple term linear equation has been adapted to fit the properties of calixarene‐bonded columns. The obtained parameters are used to describe retention and selectivity of the novel Caltrex^® phases and to elucidate underlying mechanisms of retention. Here, differences of stationary phase characteristics at different methanol concentrations in the mobile phases are examined. Both selectivity and retention were found to depend on the methanol content. Differences of these dependencies were found for different stationary phases and interactions. The differences between common alkyl‐bonded and novel calixarene‐bonded phases increase with increasing methanol content.     

Survey and Trends in the Preparation of Chemically Bonded Silica Phases for Liquid Chromatographic Analysis

In order to increase chromatographic selectivity and to extend the analytical capability of reversed phase liquid chromatography (RP HPLC) many investigators have concentrated on the preparation of silica based column packings with chemically bonded phases (CBP). These phases have also been successfully used in sample preparation techniques, mainly in solid phase extraction (SPE). Although alkyl bonded phases (e.g., C₂, C₈, and C₁₈) are the most widely used packings in RP HPLC and SPE, various specific applications require CBPs with polar functional groups (e.g., -NH₂, -NO₂, -CN, and/or -OH). The solution of problems with separation of complicated chiral compounds was attempted by applying stationary phases with chiral selectors (e.g., cyclodextrins, Pirkle phases, crown ethers, etc.). On the other hand, packings with pseudo-membrane or liquid crystal properties have been utilized for the separation of various substances of natural origin. Porous silica is commonly used as a support in the preparation of CBPs. Its physico-chemical characteristics, such as: type and structure of siliceous matrix, porosity, type and concentration of silanol groups, as well as surface purity, strongly influence the density and structure of chemically bonded phases. Recognition of these properties is helpful in optimizing separation processes based on RP HPLC elution and/or extraction of substances with polar character.     

Automated screening of reversed‐phase stationary phases for small‐molecule separations using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry

There are various reversed‐phase stationary phases that offer significant differences in selectivity and retention. To investigate different reversed‐phase stationary phases (aqueous stable C₁₈, biphenyl, pentafluorophenyl propyl, and polar‐embedded alkyl) in an automated fashion, commercial software and associated hardware for mobile phase and column selection were used in conjunction with liquid chromatography and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer detector. A model analyte mixture was prepared using a combination of standards from varying classes of analytes (including drugs, drugs of abuse, amino acids, nicotine, and nicotine‐like compounds). Chromatographic results revealed diverse variations in selectivity and peak shape. Differences in the elution order of analytes on the polar‐embedded alkyl phase for several analytes showed distinct selectivity differences compared to the aqueous C₁₈ phase. The electron‐rich pentafluorophenyl propyl phase showed unique selectivity toward protonated amines. The biphenyl phase provided further changes in selectivity relative to C₁₈ with a methanolic phase, but it behaved very similarly to a C₁₈ when an acetonitrile‐based mobile phase was evaluated. This study shows the value of rapid column screening as an alternative to excessive mobile phase variation to obtain suitable chromatographic settings for analyte separation.     

Preparation and evaluation of carbon coated alumina as a high surface area packing material for high performance liquid chromatography

The retention of polar compounds, the separation of structural isomers and thermal stability make carbonaceous materials very attractive stationary phases for liquid chromatography (LC). Carbon clad zirconia (C/ZrO₂), one of the most interesting, exhibits unparalleled chemical and thermal stability, but its characteristically low surface area (20–30 m²/g) limits broader application as a second dimension separation in two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) where high retentivity and therefore high stationary phase surface area are required. In this work, we used a high surface area commercial HPLC alumina (153 m²/g) as a support material to develop a carbon phase by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at elevated temperature using hexane vapor as the carbon source. The loading of carbon was varied by changing the CVD time and temperature, and the carbon coated alumina (C/Al₂O₃) was characterized both physically and chromatographically. The resulting carbon phases behaved as a reversed phase similar to C/ZrO₂. At all carbon loadings, C/Al₂O₃ closely matched the unique chromatographic selectivity of carbon phases, and as expected the retentivity was increased over C/ZrO₂. Excess carbon – the amount equivalent to 5 monolayers – was required to fully cover the oxide support in C/Al₂O₃, but this was less excess than needed with C/ZrO₂. Plate counts were 60,000–76,000/m for 5 μm particles. Spectroscopic studies (XPS and FT-IR) were also conducted; they showed that the two materials were chemically very similar.     

Comparison of a C30 Bonded Silica Column and Columns with Shorter Bonded Ligands in Reversed-Phase LC

The Carotenoid S is a new C₃₀ bonded silica stationary phase, intended for reversed-phase chromatographic applications, which is more hydrophobic and consequently shows stronger retention in comparison to conventionally used C₁₈ stationary phases. We compared the non-polar selectivities of the columns for homologous alkylbenzenes in acetonitrile—water and methanol–water mobile phases and polar reversed-phase selectivities employing the interaction indices and the Linear Free Energy Relationship models. Further, we investigated possibilities of separations of structurally closely related compounds in the groups of phenolic acids, flavones, phthalic acids and related compounds and of acylglycerols on the new C₃₀ column and with different types of columns for reversed-phase chromatography, including shorter alkyl C₄, C₈, C₁₈ and phenyl bonded stationary phases. The C₃₀ column has in some aspects properties similar to the non-endcapped Nova-Pak column for separation of some acylglycerols with equal equivalent carbon numbers, but enables separations of longer chain triacylglycerols in a single gradient run.

     

Phenylaminopropyl silica--a new specific stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography of phenols

The chromatographic properties of a new stationary phase, phenylaminopropyl silica (PhA-silica), containing phenylaminopropyl residues covalently bonded to the silica surface were studied. The presence of secondary amino groups, phenyl rings and alkyl linkers in the attached molecule makes it especially suitable for the separation of phenols by mixed mode retention mechanism including a combination of hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic, electrostatic and pi-pi interactions with the stationary phase. The effects of mobile phase pH, ionic strength, nature and concentration of organic modifier on the retention of phenols on PhA-silica were investigated under conditions of reversed-phase HPLC. To elucidate the role of the amino group in the attached molecule in retention of phenols the selectivity of PhA-silica was compared with that obtained for phenylpropyl silica in the framework of a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model. The isocratic separation of phenol, and its nine methyl-, chloro- and nitro-substituted derivatives was achieved on a 150x4.6 mm I.D. chromatographic column packed with 7 microm particles of PhA-silica.     

Comparison of stationary phases for packed column supercritical fluid chromatography based upon ionic liquid motifs: a study of cation and anion effects

A class of stationary phases for packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), referred to as immobilized ionic liquids (IILs), is evaluated with a two-part study: (1) a cation effect study and (2) an anion effect study. The former study compares six different IILs (tripropylphosphonium, tributylphosphonium, methyl-imidazolium, benzyl-imidazolium, triphenylphosphonium, and 4,4′-bipyridyl) on silica gel, evaluating their performance in SFC with all the counter anions as trifluoroacetate (TFA⁻). In the latter study, the stationary phase consisted of a bonded tributylphosphonium cation and varying counter anions (acetate, TFA⁻, chloride, NTf₂⁻, and perchlorate). An order of retentivity was established for the cation effect study, and the favorable behavior of phosphonium-based stationary phases is reported for the first time in SFC. It was not possible to always assign a retentivity order for the anion effect study, but wide variations in selectivity are noted for different anions showing the tunable nature of this class of stationary phases.     

Preparation and characterization of phenyl carbamate derivative β-cyclodextrin bonded phase for chiral HPLC

A partially substituted β-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phase was prepared by the reaction of phenyl isocyanate. The enantiomers of a series of O,O-diethyl(p-methylbenzenesulfonamido)-aryl(or alkyl)-methylphosphonates were studied on the prepared phenyl carbamate derivative β-cyclodextrin bonded phase and a commercial (S)-(+)-1–(1-naphthyl) ethylcarbamate derivative β-cyclodextrin bonded phase on normal phase chromatographic condition. Results show that the prepared phenyl carbamate derivative β-cyclodextrin bonded phase has better enantiomeric selectivity to the series of compounds. A chiral recognition mechanism was suggested for the separation of these novel organic phosphorus enantiomers.     

Effect of the alkyl chain length of the bonded stationary phase on solute retention in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A comparison of the chromatographic retention characteristics of nonpolar bonded stationary phases was investigated. The results show that the interactions between the solutes and the stationary phases having C₂, C₈ and C₁₈ alkyl groups are almost similar in the range of the mobile phase investigated. This interaction is considered as the solvophobic effect.     

Characterization of the properties of stationary phases for liquid chromatography in aqueous mobile phases using aromatic sulphonic acids as the test compounds

We investigated the effects of the concentration of naphthalene sulphonic acids (NSAs) as anionic test compounds in the injected sample and of the salt additives to the mobile phase on ion-exclusion. The retention behaviour of NSAs sensitively reflects even minor changes in the ionic and hydrophobic interactions and can be useful for predicting the effects of the stationary phases in reversed-phase chromatography of polar and ionic compounds, both small ones and biopolymers, e.g., oligonucleotides. We studied chromatographic properties of several stationary phases intended for separations in aqueous mobile phases: a C18 column end-capped with polar hydrophilic groups, a densely bonded C8 column doubly end-capped with short alkyl groups, a short alkyl stationary phase designed to keep full pore accessibility in highly-aqueous mobile phases and a Bidentate column with “bridged” C18 groups attached to the silica hydride support. The chemistry and pore structure of various types of column packing materials and of the salt additives to the mobile phase affect the proportion of the pore volume non-accessible to anions due to ion-exclusion and consequently the peak asymmetry and hydrophobic selectivity in reversed-phase chromatography of organic acids. We also addressed the problems connected with the determination of column hold-up volume in aqueous mobile phases. The accessibility of the stationary phase for anionic compounds in contact with the sample zone is affected by ion-exclusion due to repulsive interactions with the negatively charged surface in the pores of the stationary phase. The accessible part of the stationary phase increases and consequently the migration velocity along the column decreases with increasing concentration of the sample in the zone moving along the column. Because of a limited access to the stationary phase, its capacity can be easily overloaded. The combination of the column overload and ion-exclusion effects may result in fronting or tailing peak asymmetry. To explain this behaviour, we proposed a modified Langmuir model, respecting the variation of the column capacity due to the effects of sample concentration on ion-exclusion.     

Laterally attached liquid-crystalline polymers as stationary phases. Effect of temperature in RP HPLC and comparison with a commercial C18 stationary phase

Summary Specific side-on-fixed liquid-crystalline polymers (SOLCP) have been synthesized for use in silica-modified stationary phases in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mesogenic side group of the SOLCP is composed of three benzoate-type phenyl rings with terminal alkoxy chains and is laterally linked to a polysiloxane backbone via an alkyl ester spacer arm. The dependence of the logarithm of the retention factor on the reciprocal temperature showed that the liquid-crystalline anisotropic order was conserved in the small pores (200 ? diameter) of the silica gel. The first-order nematic-isotropic transition is lost and probably becomes second-order. Adsorption enthalpies for the liquid-crystalline stationary phases have been measurement for three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon isomers (ortho-terphenyl, triphenylene, and chrysene) and compared with those for a commercial C₁₈ phase. The adsorption enthalpies never exceeded 30 kJ mol⁻¹, i.e. ten times the thermal agitation energy,RT. They were always less on the SOLCP stationary phase than on the C₁₈ column, emphasizing the more rigid structure of the liquid crystalline phase and its mechanism based upon adsorption. Better separation of steroids, pesticides and amino acids were obtained with the LCP-coated silica than the commercial bonded C₁₈ column. Four small peptides were successfully separated by using pure water as mobile phase.     

Tuning retention and selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography by using functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Aim of this work was to explore the possibility of retention and selectivity tuning in reversed-phase liquid chromatography by means of chemically modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). These were synthesized by derivatizing pristine MWCNTs with amino-terminated alkyl chains containing polar embedded groups. A novel hybrid material based on functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-R-NH₂) was prepared, characterized and tested. The idea was to design a mixed-mode separation medium basing its sorption properties on the peculiar characteristics of MWCNTs combined with the chemical interactions provided by the functional chains introduced on the nanotube skeleton. MWCNTs-R-NH₂ were easily grafted to silica microspheres by gamma radiation (using a ⁶⁰Co source) in the presence of polybutadiene as the linking agent. The composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis in terms of structural morphology, surface area and porosity. The MWCNTs-R-NH₂ sorbent was tested as stationary phase. The reversed-phase behaviour was first proved by analysis of alkylbenzenes, while the key role of CNT derivatization in addressing the selectivity/affinity towards the solutes was evidenced by testing three classes of analytes, viz. barbiturates, steroid hormones and alkaloids. These compounds, with different molecular structure and polarity, were here analysed for the first time on CNT-based LC stationary phases. The behaviour of the novel sorbent was compared in terms of retention capability and resolution with that observed using unmodified MWCNTs, pointing out the mixed-mode characteristics of the MWCNTs-R-NH₂ material. The same test mixtures were analysed also on a conventional mono-modal separation sorbent (C18) to highlight the particular behaviour of the (derivatized)MWCNTs-based stationary phases. The novel material showed better performance in separation of polar compounds, i.e. barbiturates and alkaloids, than the unmodified MWCNTs and than the C18 column. Results showed that MWCNT functionalization is powerful to modulate retention/selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.     

Separation of Dietary Folates by Gradient Reversed-Phase HPLC: Comparison of Alternative and Conventional Silica-Based Stationary Phases

A study of ten silica-based stationary phases and gradient elution conditions to separate dietary folates by reversed-phase HPLC was performed. Alkyl-bonded stationary phases (both conventional and alternative) were found to be the most promising for the separation of different folate monoglutamates in terms of selectivity and peak shape. These phases were better than phenyl-bonded phases which lacked selectivity when separating 10-formyl-folic acid and 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate. Polar-bonded (cyano) stationary phase showed similar retention characteristics as the conventional alkyl-bonded phases, but ranked below those in terms of peak shape. Overall, alternative stationary phases exhibited slightly higher retention of late-eluted folates and greater retention variability for early-eluting tetrahydrofolate and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate. Best selectivity was achieved on alternative polar endcapped Aquasil C₁₈ followed by conventional Synergy MAX C₁₂ and Genesis C₁₈ stationary phases.     

Epoxide‐derived mixed‐mode chromatographic stationary phases for separation of active substances in fixed‐dose combination drugs

A method for the preparation of novel mixed‐mode reversed‐phase/strong cation exchange stationary phase for the separation of fixed‐dose combination drugs has been developed. An epoxysilane bonded silica prepared by vapor phase deposition was used as a starting material to produce diol, octadecyl, sulfonate, and mixed octadecyl/sulfonate groups bonded silica phases. The chemical structure and surface coverage of the functional groups on these synthesized phases were confirmed by fourier‐transform infrared and solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Alkylbenzene homologs, basic drugs, nucleobases and alkylaniline homologs were used as probes to demonstrate the reversed‐phase, ion exchange, hydrophilic interaction and mixed‐mode retention behaviors of these stationary phases. The octadecyl/sulfonate bonded silica exhibits pronounced mixed‐mode retention behavior and superior retentivity and selectivity for alkylaniline homologs. The mixed‐mode retention is affected by either ionic or solvent strength in the mobile phase, permiting optimization of a separation by fine tuning these parameters. The mixed‐mode stationary phase was applied to separate two fixed‐dose combination drugs: compound reserpine tablets and compound methoxyphenamine capsules. The results show that simultaneous separation of multiple substances in the compound dosage can be achieved on the mixed‐mode phase, which makes multi‐cycles of analysis for multiple components obsolete.     

Tetra‐proline‐modified calix[4]arene‐bonded silica stationary phase for simultaneous reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction mixed‐mode chromatography

A new water‐soluble tetra‐proline‐modified calix[4]arene‐bonded silica stationary phase was prepared straightforwardly by an indirect method and characterized by elemental analysis, energy dispersive Spectrometry, solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Due to the simultaneous introduction of polar tetra‐proline and nonpolar calix[4]arene, the developed column possessing a double retention mode of reverse‐phase liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. A series of hydrophobic and hydrophilic test samples, including nucleosides and nucleotides, amines, monosubstituted benzenes, chiral compounds, and phenols, were used to evaluate the developed stationary phase. A rapid separation capability, high separation efficiency, and selectivity were achieved based on the multiple interactions between solutes and tetra‐proline‐modified calix[4]arene‐bonded silica stationary phase. Moreover, the developed stationary phase was further used to detect and separate hexamethylenetetramine in rice flour. All the results indicated the potential merits of the developed stationary phase for simultaneous separation of complex hydrophobic and hydrophilic samples with high selectivity.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance and high-performance liquid chromatographic evaluation of polymer-based stationary phases immobilized on silica

Three poly(ethylene-co-acrylic) acid copolymers (–CH₂CH₂–)_x[CH₂CH(CO₂H)–]_y with different chain lengths and mass fractions of acrylic acid were covalently immobilized as stationary phases on silica via two variants of spacer molecules (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane). Different mobilities of the alkyl chains in the stationary phases were observed using ¹³C solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The stationary phases with more rigid trans-ordered alkyl chains had better selectivity for geometric -carotene and xanthophyll isomers (provitamin A derivatives). Also, all the separations of the analytes were affected by polar interactions with the chromatographic sorbent. This was further proved by separating more polar cis/trans retinoic acid isomers (vitamin A derivatives). ¹³C high-resolution/magic-angle spinning (HR/MAS) NMR measurements of the chromatographic sorbents suspended in the mobile phase confirmed a dependence of molecular shape recognition ability on alkyl chain conformation.     

Preparation and evaluation of a novel bonded imidazolium ionic liquid as stationary phase for gas chromatography

1‐Butyl‐3‐[(3‐trimethoxysilyl)propyl]imidazolium chloride ionic liquid was synthesized and chemically modified onto the inner wall of a fused capillary column as a stationary phase for gas chromatography. The 1‐butyl‐3‐[(3‐trimethoxysilyl)propyl]imidazolium chloride ionic liquid bonded capillary column was evaluated in detail. The results revealed that the ionic liquid bonded capillary column exhibited high column efficiency of 1.08 × 10⁴ plates/m, and good chromatographic separation selectivity (α ) for polar and non‐polar substances, and a good thermal stability between room temperature and 400°C. Moreover, the determination of thermodynamic parameters and the linear solvation energy relationship were further carried out. The results indicated that the chromatographic retention of each probe molecule on the ionic liquid bonded stationary phase was an enthalpy‐driven process, and the system constants of the linear solvation energy relationship signified that the dispersion interaction, the hydrogen bonding acidity and hydrogen bonding basicity were dominant interactions between probes and stationary phase among five interactions during the chromatographic separation. However, the contribution of each specific interaction for the stationary phase is ranked as the dispersion interaction > the hydrogen bonding basicity > the hydrogen bonding acidity.     

Fullerenes separation with monomeric type C30 stationary phase in high-performance liquid chromatography

The temperature effect on the separation of fullerenes in LC was examined using monomeric type C30, C18 and C8 alkyl bonded stationary phases. It appears that the C30 phase exhibits superior separation ability for fullerenes. It is observed that the maximum retention temperature of fullerenes on the C30 phase is around 20 degrees C. A strong correlation between the changes in NMR spectra and the retention behavior of the solutes was found. The interpretation of the retention behavior of fullerenes on the alkyl bonded stationary phases, including the behavior in subambient temperature, is discussed using the information obtained by CP-MAS solid-state NMR spectroscopy and LC.