Intermolecular interactions between the mobile phase components and isomeric naphthols in a thin-layer chromatography

The purpose of our work was to investigate intermolecular interactions between the components of a mobile phase (acetone-benzene) and the isomeric naphthols. On the basis of chromatographic, dielectric, and IR measurements it was established that with the mobile phase composed exclusively of benzene the α- and β-naphthol occurred mainly as monomers and were directly adsorbed on silica gel throughout the whole chromatographic process. With the increase of acetone concentration in the applied mobile phases the effectivity of intermolecular interactions between the α- and β-naphthol molecules and those of acetone also increased. The described method can help give approximate evaluations of intermolecular interactions in the chromatographic systems composed of the mobile phase and separated substances.