Preparation and evaluation of 1,3-alternate 25,27-bis-(pentafluorobenzyloxy)-26,28-bis-(3-propyloxy)-calix[4]arene-bonded silica gel high performance liquid chromatography stationary phase

A 1,3-alternate 25,27-bis-(pentafluorobenzyloxy)-26,28-bis-(3-propyloxy)-calix[4]arene-bonded silica gel stationary phase (CalixBzF₁₀) was synthesized, structurally characterized, and used as a selector in liquid chromatography. The selectivity study of this phase was done by using fluorine-containing compounds (fluorobenzenes, fluoro-pyrimidine bases), as well as non-fluorinated analytes (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, xanthines and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons). The effects of organic modifiers on the retention of various compounds possessing basic, acidic and neutral characteristics were studied. It was shown that only basic analytes exhibit a “U-shaped” retention profile and that retention depends on the mobile phase pH. Selectivity comparisons of the novel phase vs. the 1,3-alternate 25,27-bis-(benzyloxy)-26,28-bis-(3-propyloxy)-calix[4]arene phase (CalixBz) were performed. The retention mechanism is also discussed. The results indicate that the fluorinated calixarene stationary phase behaves like reversed-phase packing material; however, fluorine–fluorine interactions seem to be involved in the separation process of fluorine-containing analytes.