Analysis of polar peptides using a silica hydride column and high aqueous content mobile phases

The retention behavior of a set of polar peptides separated on a silica hydride stationary phase was examined with a capillary HPLC system coupled to ESI‐MS detection. The mobile phases consisted of formic acid or acetic acid/acetonitrile/water mixtures with the acetonitrile content ranging from 5 to 80% v/v. The effects on peptide retention of these two acidic buffer additives and their concentrations in the mobile phase were systematically investigated. Strong retention of the peptides on the silica hydride phase was observed with relatively high‐organic low‐aqueous mobile phases (i.e. under aqueous normal‐phase conditions). However, when low concentrations of acetic acid were employed as the buffer additive, strong retention of the peptides was also observed even when high aqueous content mobile phases were employed. This unique feature of the stationary phase therefore provides an opportunity for chromatographic analysis of polar peptides with water‐rich eluents, a feature usually not feasible with traditional RP sorbents, and thus under conditions more compatible with analytical green chemistry criteria. In addition, both isocratic and gradient elution procedures can be employed to optimize peptide separations with excellent reproducibility and resolution under these high aqueous mobile phase conditions with this silica hydride stationary phase.     

Insights into the Retention Mechanism for Small Neutral Compounds on Silica-Based Phenyl Phases in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

The system constants of the solvation parameter model are used to prepare system maps for the retention of small neutral compounds on phenylhexylsiloxane- and pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded superficially porous silica stationary phases (Kinetex Phenyl-Hexyl and Kinetex F5) for aqueous mobile phases containing 10–70% (v/v) methanol or acetonitrile. Electrostatic interactions (cation exchange) are important for the retention of weak bases for acetonitrile–water mobile phases, but virtually absent for the same compounds for methanol–water mobile phases. The selectivity of the Kinetex Phenyl-Hexyl stationary phase for small neutral compounds is similar to an octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase with similar morphology Kinetex C-18 for both methanol–water and acetonitrile–water mobile phase compositions. The Kinetex Phenyl-Hexyl and XBridge Phenyl stationary phases with the same topology but different morphology are selectivity equivalent, confirming that solvation of the interphase region can be effective at dampening selectivity differences for modern stationary phases. Small selectivity differences observed for XTerra Phenyl (different morphology and topology) confirm previous reports that the length and type of space arm for phenylalkylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phases can result in small changes in selectivity. The pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Kinetex F5) has similar separation properties to the phenylhexylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phases, but is not selectivity equivalent. However, for method development purposes, the scope to vary separations from an octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Kinetex C-18) to “phenyl phase” of the types studied here is limited for small neutral compounds. In addition, selectivity differences for the above stationary phases are enhanced by methanol–water and largely suppressed by acetonitrile–water mobile phases. For bases, larger selectivity differences are possible for the above stationary phases if electrostatic interactions are exploited, especially for acetonitrile-containing mobile phases.     

Chromatographic behavior of new deazapurine ribonucleosides in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

The chromatographic behavior of new biogenic purine nucleosides in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography was examined on three different stationary phases, namely bare silica, and amide‐ and cyclofructan‐based stationary phases. The effects of buffer concentration, pH and acetonitrile‐to‐aqueous‐part ratio in the mobile phase on retention and peak shape were assessed. The retention coefficients and peak symmetry values substantially differed with respect to analytes´ structures, stationary phase properties and mobile phase composition. The bare silica column was unsuitable for these compounds under the chromatographic conditions tested due to very broad and asymmetrical peaks. Furthermore, the cyclofructan‐based stationary phase provided almost Gaussian peak shapes of all deazapurine nucleosides under most conditions tested. Therefore, the cyclofructan‐based stationary phase is the most suitable choice for the chromatographic analysis of nucleosides.     

System Maps for Retention of Small Neutral Compounds on a Superficially Porous Ethyl-Bridged,Octadecylsiloxane-Bonded Silica Stationary Phase in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

The system constants of the solvation parameter model are used to prepare system maps for the retention of small neutral compounds on an ethyl-bridged, ocatadecylsiloxane-bonded superficially porous silica stationary phase (Kinetex EVO C18) for aqueous mobile phases containing 10–70% (v/v) methanol or acetonitrile. Electrostatic interactions (cation-exchange) are important for the retention of weak bases with acetonitrile–water but not methanol–water mobile phase compositions. Compared with a superficially porous octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Kinetex C18) with a similar morphology but different topology statistically significant differences in selectivity at the 95% confidence level are observed for neutral compounds that vary by size and hydrogen-bond basicity with other intermolecular interactions roughly similar. These selectivity differences are dampened with acetonitrile–water mobile phases, but are significant for methanol–water mobile phase compositions containing <30% (v/v) methanol. A comparison of a totally porous ethyl-bridged, octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (XBridge C18) with Kinetex EVO C18 indicated that they are effectively selectivity equivalent.     

Insights into the Retention Mechanism on a Pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-Bonded Silica Stationary Phase (Discovery HS F5) in RP-LC

The solvation parameter model is used to elucidate the retention mechanism of neutral compounds on the pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Discovery HS F5) with methanol-water and acetonitrile-water mobile phases containing from 10 to 70% (v/v) organic solvent. The dominant factors that increase retention are solute size and electron lone pair interactions while polar interactions reduce retention. A comparison of the retention mechanism with an octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase based on the same silica substrate and with a similar bonding density (Discovery HS C18) provides additional insights into selectivity differences for the two types of stationary phase. The methanol-water solvated pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase is more cohesive and/or has weaker dispersion interactions and is more dipolar/polarizable than the octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase. Differences in hydrogen-bonding interactions contribute little to relative retention differences. For mobile phases containing more than 30% (v/v) acetonitrile selectivity differences for the pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded and octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phases are no more than modest with differences in hydrogen-bond acidity of greater importance than observed for methanol-water. Below 30% (v/v) acetonitrile selectivity differences are more marked owing to incomplete wetting of the octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase at low volume fractions of acetonitrile that are not apparent for the pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase. Steric repulsion affects a wider range of compounds on the octadecylsiloxane-bonded than pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase with methanol mobile phases resulting in additional selectivity differences than predicted by the solvation parameter model. Electrostatic interactions with weak bases were unimportant for methanol-water mobile phase compositions in contrast to acetonitrile-water where ion-exchange behavior is enhanced, especially for the pentafluorophenylpropylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase. The above results are compatible with a phenomenological interpretation of stationary phase conformations using the haystack, surface accessibility, and hydro-linked proton conduit models.     

Linear Solvation Energy Relationships in the Determination of Specificity and Selectivity of Stationary Phases

The retention of fifty structurally different compounds has been studied using linear solvation energy relationships. Investigations were performed with the use of six various stationary phases with two mobile phases (50/50 % v/v methanol/water and 50/50 % v/v acetonitrile/water). Packing materials were home-made and functionalized with octadecyl, alkylamide, cholesterol, alkyl-phosphate and phenyl molecules. This is the first attempt to compare all of these stationary phases synthesized on the same silica gel batch. Therefore, all of them may be compared in more complex and believable way, than it was performed earlier in former investigations. The phase properties (based on Abraham model) were used to the classification of stationary phases according to their interaction properties. The hydrophilic system properties s, a, b indicate stronger interactions between solute and mobile phase for most of the columns. Both e and v cause greater retention as a consequence of preferable interactions with stationary phase by electron pairs and cavity formation as well as hydrophobic bonds. However, alkyl-phosphate phase has different retention properties, as it was expressed by positive sign of s coefficient. It may be concluded that most important parameters influencing the retention of compounds are volume and hydrogen bond acceptor basicity. The LSER coefficients showed also the dependency on the type of organic modifier used as a mobile phase component.

     

Linear Solvation Energy Relationships in the Determination of Specificity and Selectivity of Stationary Phases

The retention of fifty structurally different compounds has been studied using linear solvation energy relationships. Investigations were performed with the use of six various stationary phases with two mobile phases (50/50?% v/v methanol/water and 50/50?% v/v acetonitrile/water). Packing materials were home-made and functionalized with octadecyl, alkylamide, cholesterol, alkyl-phosphate and phenyl molecules. This is the first attempt to compare all of these stationary phases synthesized on the same silica gel batch. Therefore, all of them may be compared in more complex and believable way, than it was performed earlier in former investigations. The phase properties (based on Abraham model) were used to the classification of stationary phases according to their interaction properties. The hydrophilic system properties s, a, b indicate stronger interactions between solute and mobile phase for most of the columns. Both e and v cause greater retention as a consequence of preferable interactions with stationary phase by electron pairs and cavity formation as well as hydrophobic bonds. However, alkyl-phosphate phase has different retention properties, as it was expressed by positive sign of s coefficient. It may be concluded that most important parameters influencing the retention of compounds are volume and hydrogen bond acceptor basicity. The LSER coefficients showed also the dependency on the type of organic modifier used as a mobile phase component.     

Insights into the Retention Mechanism of Small Neutral Compounds on Octylsiloxane-Bonded and Diisobutyloctadecylsiloxane-Bonded Silica Stationary Phases in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

The system constants of the solvation parameter model are used to prepare system maps for the retention of small neutral compounds on an octylsiloxane-bonded (Kinetex C8) and diisobutyloctadecylsiloxane-bonded (Kinetex XB-C18) superficially porous silica stationary phases for aqueous mobile phases containing 10–70% (v/v) methanol or acetonitrile. Electrostatic interactions (cation-exchange) are important for the retention of weak bases with acetonitrile–water but not for methanol–water mobile phases. Compared with an octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Kinetex C18) retention is reduced due to a less favorable phase ratio for both the octylsiloxane-bonded and diisobutyloctadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phases while selectivity differences are small and solvent dependent. Selectivity differences for neutral compounds are larger for methanol–water but significantly suppressed for acetonitrile–water mobile phases. The selectivity differences arise from small changes in all system constants with solute size and hydrogen-bond basicity being the most important due to their dominant contribution to the retention mechanism. Exchanging the octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica column for either the octylsiloxane-bonded or diisobutyloctadecylsiloxane-bonded silica column affords little scope for extending the selectivity space and is restricted to fine tuning of separations, and in some cases, to obtain faster separations due to a more favorable phase ratio. For weak bases larger differences in relative retention are expected with acetonitrile–water mobile phases on account of the additional cation exchange interactions possible that are absent for the octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase.     

Retention of C60 and C70 fullerenes on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic stationary phases.

The separation of C60 and C70 fullerenes on four different polysiloxane stationary phases was examined. It was determined that polar solvents can be used as mobile phases effectively for the separation of fullerene molecules. Unlike previously published work, a polymeric octadecyl siloxane (ODS) stationary phase provided higher separation factors for C70/C60 than did monomeric ODS stationary phases or phenyl substituted stationary phases. For example, for a methanol-diethyl ether (50:50, v/v) mobile phase and C60, k' approximately 5.0 separation factors, alpha = 3.3, were achieved with polymeric ODS compared to alpha = 2.2, with a monomeric ODS stationary phase. A linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) was used to model the importance of solvent interactions and stationary phase interaction to solute retention.     

Evaluation of ternary mobile phases for reversed-phase liquid chromatography: Effect of composition on retention mechanism

The effect of varying mobile phase composition across a ternary space between two binary compositions is examined, on four different reversed-phase stationary phases. Examined stationary phases included endcapped C8 and C18, as well as a phenyl phase and a C18 phase with an embedded polar group (EPG). Mobile phases consisting of 50% water and various fractions of methanol and acetonitrile were evaluated. Retention thermodynamics are assessed via use of the van’t Hoff relationship, and retention mechanism is characterized via LSER analysis, as mobile phase composition was varied from 50/50/0 water/methanol/acetonitrile to 50/0/50 water/methanol acetonitrile. As expected, as the fraction of acetonitrile increases in the mobile phase, retention decreases. In most cases, the driving force for this decrease in retention is a reduction of the enthalpic contribution to retention. The entropic contribution to retention actually increases with acetonitrile content, but not enough to overcome the reduction in the enthalpic contribution. In a similar fashion, as methanol is replaced with acetonitrile, the v, e, and a LSER system constants change to favor elution, while the s and c constants change to favor retention. The b system constant did not show a monotonic change with mobile phase composition. Overall changes in retention across the mobile phase composition range varied, based on the identity of the stationary phase and the composition of the mobile phase.     

Insights into the retention mechanism on an octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (HyPURITY C18) in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Plots of the retention factor against mobile phase composition were used to organize a varied group of solutes into three categories according to their retention mechanism on an octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase HyPURITY C18 with methanol-water and acetonitrile-water mobile phase compositions containing 10-70% (v/v) organic solvent. The solutes in category 1 could be fit to a general retention model, Eq. (2), and exhibited normal retention behavior for the full composition range. The solutes in category 2 exhibited normal retention behavior at high organic solvent composition with a discontinuity at low organic solvent compositions. The solutes in category 3 exhibited a pronounced step or plateau in the middle region of the retention plots with a retention mechanism similar to category 1 solutes at mobile phase compositions after the discontinuity and a different retention mechanism before the discontinuity. Selecting solutes and appropriate composition ranges from the three categories where a single retention mechanism was operative allowed modeling of the experimental retention factors using the solvation parameter model. These models were then used to predict retention factors for solutes not included in the models. The overwhelming number of residual values [log k (experimental) - log k (model predicted)] were negative and could be explained by contributions from steric repulsion, defined as the inability of the solute to insert itself fully into the stationary phase because of its bulkiness (i.e., volume and/or shape). Steric repulsion is shown to strongly depend on the mobile phase composition and was more significant for mobile phases with a low volume fraction of organic solvent in general and for mobile phases containing methanol rather than acetonitrile. For mobile phases containing less than about 20 % (v/v) organic solvent the mobile phase was unable to completely wet the stationary phase resulting in a significant change in the phase ratio and for acetonitrile (but less so methanol) changes in the solvation environment indicated by a discontinuity in the system maps.     

Retention properties of acetone-water mobile phases on a biphenylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The solvation parameter model system constants and retention factors were used to interpret retention properties of 39 calibration compounds on a biphenylsiloxane-bonded stationary phase (Kinetex biphenyl) for acetone-water binary mobile phase systems containing 30–70% v/v. Variation in system constants, phase ratios, and retention factors of acetone-water binary mobile phases systems were compared with more commonly used acetonitrile and methanol mobile phase systems. Retention properties of acetone mobile phases on a Kinetex biphenyl column were more similar to that of acetonitrile than methanol mobile phases except with respect to selectivity equivalency. Importantly, selectivity differences arising between acetone and acetonitrile systems (the lower hydrogen-bond basicity of acetone-water mobile phases and differences in hydrogen-bond acidity, cavity formation and dispersion interactions) could be exploited in reversed-phase liquid chromatography method development on a Kinetex biphenyl stationary phase.     

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography in the separation of a moderately lipophilic drug from its highly polar metabolites--the cardioprotectant dexrazoxane as a model case

This paper presents a systematic study of the retention behavior of a model bisdioxopiperazine drug, dexrazoxane (DEX) and its three polar metabolites (two single open-ring intermediates-B and C and an EDTA-like active compound ADR-925) on different stationary phases intended for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). The main aim was to estimate advantages and limitations of HILIC in the simultaneous analysis of a moderately lipophilic parent drug and its highly polar metabolites, including positional isomers, under MS compatible conditions. The study involved two bare silica columns (Ascentic Express HILIC, Atlantis HILIC) and two stationary phases with distinct zwitterionic properties (Obelisc N and ZIC HILIC). The chromatographic conditions (mobile phase strength and pH, column temperature) were systematically modified to assess their impact on retention and separation of the studied compounds. It was found that the bare silica phases were unable to separate the positional isomers (intermediates B and C), whereas both columns with zwitterionic properties (Obelisc N and ZIC HILIC) were able to separate these structurally very similar compounds. However, only ZIC HILIC phase allowed appropriate separation of DEX and all its metabolites to a base line within a single run. A mobile phase composed of a mixture of ammonium formate (0.5 mM) and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) was suggested as optimal for the simultaneous analysis of DEX and its metabolites on ZIC HILIC. Thereafter, HILIC-LC-MS analysis of DEX and all its metabolites was performed for the first time to obtain basic data about the applicability of the suggested chromatographic conditions. Hence, this study demonstrates that HILIC could be a viable solution for the challenging analysis of moderately polar parent drug along with its highly polar metabolites including the ability to separate structurally very similar compounds, such as positional isomers.     

A simple TLC and HPTLC method for separation of selected steroid drugs

Chromatographic properties of five steroid drugs: cortisone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone and norgestrel have been studied by normal-, reversed-phase and hydrophilic neutral cyano-bonded silica stationary phase with five binary mobile phases (acetonitrile-water, acetonitrile-DMSO, acetonitrile-methanol, acetone-petroleum ether, acetone-water) in which the concentration of organic modifier was varied from 0 to 100% (v/v). This study reports the optimization of steroid hormones separation. Chromatographic retention data and possible retention mechanisms are discussed. Separation abilities of mobile and stationary phases were studied using the principal component analysis method. The best separation of methylprednisolone and prednisolone is with a chromatographic system included silica gel as stationary phase and mixture of acetonitrile and DMSO (10:90 v/v). These two anti-inflammatory drugs can be fast separated from norgestrel when CN is used as stationary phase and acetone and water (40:60 v/v) as mobile phase. The highest values of the parameter Δ(ΔG°) and alfa for cortisone and hydrocortisone was observed in case of using CN as stationary phase and water-acetonitryle (40:60 v/v) as mobile phase.      

Study of the selectivity,retention mechanisms and performance of alternative silica-based stationary phases for separation of ionised solutes in hydrophilic interaction chromatography

The separation of a mixture of neutral, strongly acidic and strongly basic compounds was studied in hydrophilic interaction chromatography using a bare silica phase, and bonded silica phases with diol, zwitterionic, amide and hydrophilic/hydrophobic groups. The mobile phase was acetonitrile–ammonium formate buffer at low pH. Differences in selectivity between these various columns indicate that the stationary phase cannot function merely as an inert support for a water layer into which the solutes partition from the bulk mobile phase. Attempts to fit the retention data to equations which describe either partition or adsorption mechanisms were inconclusive. Ion exchange was a significant contributor to the retention of ionised bases on all columns studied. Van Deemter plots indicated that the efficiency as a function of flow rate varied between the columns, which might be attributable in part to the presence of either monomeric or polymeric bonded phase layers.     

Effects of stationary-phase polarity on retention in reversed bonded phase HPLC columns

Summary Variations in retention and selectivity have been studied in cyano, phenyl and octyl reversed bonded phase HPLC columns. The retention of toluene, phenol, aniline and nitrobenzene in these columns has been measured using binary mixtures of water and methanol, acetonitrile or tetrahydrofuran mobile phases in order to determine the relative contributions of proton donor-proton acceptor and dipole-dipole interactions in the retention process. Retention and selectivity in these columns was correlated with polar group selectivities of mobile phase organic modifiers and the polarity of the bonded stationary phases. In spite of the prominent role of bonded phase volume and residual silanols in the retention process, each column exhibited some unique selectivities when used with different organic modifiers.     

HPLC retention behavior on hydride-based stationary phases

Two stationary phases attached to a silica hydride surface, cholesterol and bidentate C18, are investigated with a number of pharmaceutically related compounds in order to illustrate the various retention mechanisms that are possible for these bonded materials. The test solutes range from hydrophilic to hydrophobic based on log P (octanol/water partition coefficient) and pKa values. The mobile phases consist of acidified (formic and perchloric acid) water/methanol or water/ACN mixtures. Of particular interest are the high organic content mobile phase compositions where the retention would increase if the bonded material was operating in the aqueous normal phase (ANP) mode. Plots of retention factor (k) versus mobile phase composition are used to elucidate the retention mechanism. A number of examples are presented where solutes are retained based on RP, ANP, or dual retention mechanisms. The silica hydride-based stationary phases can also retain compounds in the organic normal phase.     

Mobile phase effects on retention on a new butylimidazolium-based high-performance liquid chromatographic stationary phase

A new HPLC stationary phase based on n-butylimidazolium bromide has been characterized by a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) approach in the binary acetonitrile/water mobile phases. The retention properties of the stationary phase were systematically evaluated in terms of intermolecular interactions between 28 test solutes and the stationary phase. The results and further comparisons with conventional reversed phase system confirm that retention properties are similar to phenyl phases in acetonitrile/water mixtures. The results obtained with acetonitrile/water mixtures are also compared with results obtained using methanol/water mixtures.