Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Olefin Oligomers and its Relation to Separation of Polyolefins – an Overview

Summary: Linear and branched alkanes are oligomers of polyethylene. Alkanes with higher molar masses are called waxes. These substances are widely used as fuels, oils, lubricants, etc. and for these reasons many groups have tried to analyse, separate and characterise alkanes by various methods, including liquid chromatography. Alkanes may be separated according to their size in solution by SEC. In addition to chromatographic systems separating in the SEC mode, various sorbent-solvent systems have been published, where alkanes have been separated one from another by adsorption and/or precipitation mechanism. The mobile phase is either a non-polar solvent or a polar solvent or a mixture of a solvent and a non-solvent for alkanes. Even near critical conditions, which have several advantages for applications of HPLC in polymer analysis, have been identified for alkanes. Moreover, selective separations of branched alkanes according to their structure have been published. In the majority of these published studies, solvents with low boiling points have been used as the mobile phases, which do not allow dissolution of crystalline polyolefins at atmospheric pressure. However, taking into account experiences with the separation of alkanes, new HPLC systems for the separation of polyolefins may be developed. This is a major challenge and first results are presented in this contribution.     

Polymeric imidazolium ionic liquids as valuable stationary phases in gas chromatography: Chemical synthesis and full characterization

Seven new functionalized polymerizable ionic liquids were chemically prepared, and later applied for the preparation of polymeric stationary phases in gas chromatography. These coated GC columns, which exhibited good thermal stabilities (240–300 °C) and very high efficiencies (3120–4200 plates/m), have been characterized using the Abraham solvation parameter model. The chromatographic behavior of these polymeric IL columns has been deeply studied observing excellent selectivities in the separation of many organic substances such as alkanes, ketones, alcohols, amines or esters in mixtures of polar and non polar solvents or fragrances. Remarkably, the challenging separation of xylene isomers has been possible using a bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide based imidazolium IL coated column as a gas chromatography stationary phase.     

Sensitivity enhancement of liquid chromatographic-direct chemiluminescence detection by on-line post-column solvent mediated pre-oxidative chemiluminescence

The compatibility of liquid chromatography solvents with oxidizing reagents frequently employed in direct chemiluminescence reactions is examined in this study. Various oxidizing reagents were examined for their response in hydro-organic and micellar mobile phases in both isocratic and gradient elution modes. Mild oxidants like hydrogen peroxide, periodate, cerium and hypochlorite were found to be completely compatible with common reversed phase HPLC solvents posing as no threat to the detection procedure. On the other hand, stronger oxidants like acidic permanganate were found to oxidize organic solvents towards the production of an intense light signal. Although several analytical applications can emerge from this finding, the conjunction of this system with reversed phase HPLC is impractical owing to a significant baseline increase which deteriorates the sensitivity of the analysis. A convenient solution to this problem is proposed based on the regulated on-line post-column pre-oxidation of the organic solvent (SPOC) with mild oxidants that have no influence on the final signal. The analytical utility of this new approach in the determination of organic compounds after chromatographic separation is demonstrated.     

Cycloalkane-based thermomorphic systems for organic electrochemistry: an application to Kolbe-coupling

The discovery that cycloalkanes can form thermomorphic systems with typical polar organic solvents has led to the development of less-polar electrolyte solutions. Their mixing and separation can be regulated reversibly at a moderate temperature range. The phase switching temperature can be controlled by changing the solvent compositions. While biphasic conditions are maintained below the phase switching temperature, conductive monophasic conditions as less-polar electrolyte solutions are obtained above the phase switching temperature. After the electrochemical transformations, biphasic conditions are reconstructed below the phase switching temperature, facilitating the separation of cycloalkane where hydrophobic products or designed hydrophobic platforms are selectively partitioned. Several polar organic solvents, including acetonitrile, methanol, and pyridine, can be used in this system according to the requirement of the reactions.     

Are Polar Organometallic Compounds “Carbanions”? The Gegenion Effect on Structure and Energies of Alkali-Metal Compounds

Polar organometallic compounds such as alkyllithium compounds or Grignard reagents often are conceived as “carbanions”, although it is well known from experiments that the metal gegenions may have a strong, and often directing, influence on the reactivity (for example, the basicity vs. the nucleophilicity) of the “carbanion”. This demonstrates that “carbanions” are tightly associated ion pairs, at least in commonly used less polar or nonpolar solvent systems like ethers or hydrocarbons. However, despite about ninety years of widespread application of these organometallic compounds as bases or nucleophilic reagents, the role of the gegenion is not yet understood fully. The focus of this review is on the inherent influences of the metal gegenion on the structures, reaction energies, and activation barriers of some representative alkali-metal compounds. While most comparisons of physical and chemical properties determined experimentally for Group I compounds are precluded due to different substituents, solvents, ligands, etc., ab initio calculations of model compounds can yield intrinsic data that are useful for a better understanding of chemical behavior. For this reason, most of the data reviewed in this article are based on quantum chemical calculations, which are compared with experimental data where available.     

Extraction of organic compounds with room temperature ionic liquids

Room temperature ionic liquids are novel solvents with a rather specific blend of physical and solution properties that makes them of interest for applications in separation science. They are good solvents for a wide range of compounds in which they behave as polar solvents. Their physical properties of note that distinguish them from conventional organic solvents are a negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability, and relatively high viscosity. They can form biphasic systems with water or low polarity organic solvents and gases suitable for use in liquid–liquid and gas–liquid partition systems. An analysis of partition coefficients for varied compounds in these systems allows characterization of solvent selectivity using the solvation parameter model, which together with spectroscopic studies of solvent effects on probe substances, results in a detailed picture of solvent behavior. These studies indicate that the solution properties of ionic liquids are similar to those of polar organic solvents. Practical applications of ionic liquids in sample preparation include extractive distillation, aqueous biphasic systems, liquid–liquid extraction, liquid-phase microextraction, supported liquid membrane extraction, matrix solvents for headspace analysis, and micellar extraction. The specific advantages and limitations of ionic liquids in these studies is discussed with a view to defining future uses and the need not to neglect the identification of new room temperature ionic liquids with physical and solution properties tailored to the needs of specific sample preparation techniques. The defining feature of the special nature of ionic liquids is not their solution or physical properties viewed separately but their unique combinations when taken together compared with traditional organic solvents.     

Surface modification of colloidal silica particles

Colloidal silica particles in organic solvents were grafted, using several reagents, in order to make them hydrophobic. The hydrophobicity of the beads could be easily varied. Quasielastic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy experiments showed that no aggregation occurs during the reaction when monofunctional agents are used. Elemental analysis and solid-state NMR measurements gave us the rate of surface modification of the silanol groups. We also studied the rheological behaviour of the grafted particles as a function of the volume fraction in solvents of various hydrophobicity. Hexamethyldisilazane-grafted particles display hard-sphere behaviour in polar solvents such as 2-propanol, but not in alkanes, whereas dimethyldodecylchlorosilane-grafted particles flocculated in polar solvents but could easily be dispersed in apolar solvents. Received: 15 March 2000 Accepted: 11 July 2000     

End‐Group‐Functionalized Poly(α‐olefinates) as Non‐Polar Building Blocks: Self‐Assembly of Sugar–Polyolefin Hybrid Conjugates

Living coordinative chain‐transfer polymerization of α‐olefins, followed by chemical functionalization of a Zn(polymeryl)₂ intermediate, provides entry to end‐group functionalized poly(α‐olefinates) (x‐PAOs) that can serve as a new class of non‐polar building block with tailorable occupied volumes. Application of these x‐PAOs for the synthesis and self‐assembly of sugar‐polyolefin hybrid conjugates demonstrate the ability to manipulate the morphology of the ultra‐thin film nanostructure through variation in occupied volume of the x‐PAO domain.     

Multi-residue quantification of veterinary drugs in milk with a novel extraction and cleanup technique: Salting out supported liquid extraction (SOSLE)

A quantitative liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of more than one hundred compounds belonging to a variety of veterinary drug classes in bovine milk. Salting out supported liquid extraction (SOSLE), a novel extraction and cleanup technique, was introduced to ensure high extraction efficiency and good sample cleanup. The high salt (ammonium sulfate) concentration in the aqueous donor phase permits supported liquid/liquid extraction (SLE) with a relative polar organic acceptor phase (acetonitrile). This is different from traditional SLE, in which the need for phase separation results in the selection of organic solvents with intermediate polarities (e.g., ethyl acetate or dichloromethane). Hence, SOSLE is more efficient in recovering polar analytes than conventional SLE. SOSLE was also compared to classical approaches like solid phase extraction, QuEChERS and ultra-filtration. The proposed technique resulted in extracts of equal or superior cleanliness and with higher average recoveries than those obtained with QuEChERS or SPE. The recovery (median for all compounds) was 73% for QuEChERS, 83% for SPE and 91% for SOSLE. The most significant improvements were observed for polar analytes (penicillines, quinolones and tetracyclines) which are hardly recovered by QuEChERS. The chromatographic separation and detection was based on an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography Q-Orbitrap system (Q-Exactive plus). The developed analytical method has been validated (based on the commission decision 2002/957/EC) as required for quantitative veterinary drug methods.     

Introducing Deep Eutectic Solvents to Polar Organometallic Chemistry: Chemoselective Addition of Organolithium and Grignard Reagents to Ketones in Air

Despite their enormous synthetic relevance, the use of polar organolithium and Grignard reagents is greatly limited by their requirements of low temperatures in order to control their reactivity as well as the need of dry organic solvents and inert atmosphere protocols to avoid their fast decomposition. Breaking new ground on the applications of these commodity organometallics in synthesis under more environmentally friendly conditions, this work introduces deep eutetic solvents (DESs) as a green alternative media to carry out chemoselective additions of ketones in air at room temperature. Comparing their reactivities in DES with those observed in pure water suggest that a kinetic activation of the alkylating reagents is taking place, favoring nucleophilic addition over the competitive hydrolysis, which can be rationalized through formation of halide‐rich magnesiate or lithiate species.     

Functionalized porous silica microspheres as scavengers in parallel synthesis

The use of solid scavengers in parallel solution-phase organic synthesis is an effective method for work-up and purification. Functionalized macroreticular or gel-form polystyrene particles are generally used for scavenging applications, how ever these materials have some limitations. We have developed new scavenging reagents based on ultrapure silica microspheres displaying a variety of functional groups useful for sequestering impurities from reaction products. These materials are easy to handle, have excellent mass-transfer properties, and are efficient scavengers in both polar and nonpolar organic solvents. The properties of these materials were tailored specifically to fit the needs of a medicinal chemist employing parallel synthesis techniques in current commercial equipment. Results are presented from head-to-head comparisons with conventional scavengers in tests designed to demonstrate the versatility of these new materials.     

Solubilization of silica nanoparticles in alkanes and poly(α-olefin)s by functionalized polyisobutylene oligomers

Covalent and noncovalent chemical methods that use oligomeric lipophilic agents to solubilize silica nanoparticles in heptane and poly(α-olefin) (EPAO) solvents are described. While only modest solubilization efficiencies are seen with an octadecyl group, a variety of terminally functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB) derivatives are more efficient. Both covalent and noncovalent chemistry was found to be effective. Covalent modification solubilized up to 34 wt% of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) as stable solutions in heptane or PAOs. Noncovalent modification was however more effective, solubilizing up to 70% of SiNPs in heptane or PAOs. The most successful covalent approach used PIB oligomers containing terminal triethoxysilane groups to covalently modify SiNPs. Alternatively, SiNPs that were first functionalized with amine groups could be solubilized in heptane or PAOs with polyisobutylene containing sulfonic acid groups using acid–base chemistry. Studies of these and other solubilization chemistry was also carried out using fluorescent labels, studies that confirmed the gravimetric analyses of the heptane-solubilized SiNPs. Transmission electron microscopy of a PAO solution of these solutions showed that these SiNPs were present as small aggregates dispersed in the PAOs.     

Applications of ethylammonium and propylammonium nitrate solvents in liquid-liquid extraction and chromatography

Ethyl- and propylammonium nitrate are novel ionic solvents, liquid at room temperature, suitable for use as selective solvents for the isolation of analytes containing proton donor functional groups (alcohols, amines, phenols, carboxylic acids, etc.) by liquid-liquid distribution. These solvents form immiscible solvent pairs with non-polar aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers and alkyl halide solvents (e.g., methylene chloride, chloroform). Analytes can be recovered from the ionic solvents by back-extraction into ah organic solvent after dilution with water or pH buffer or, preferably, by extractive derivatization when gas chromatography is used for the analyses, avoiding the accumulation of salt on the column that results in poor baseline stability. Alkylation, acylation and particularly silylation are suitable methods for extractive derivatization using standard reaction conditions. Applications are presented for the isolation of polar analytes from an urban dust, shale oil and urine samples and for the determination of low-molecular-weight alcohols in gasahol and glycerol in soap. Liquid-liquid chromatographic systems with the liquid organic salt as stationary phase can be used to predict distribution constants for a particular separation and for the separation of polar solutes, particularly isomeric compounds possessing a proton donor functional group.     

Thermodynamics of Mixtures Containing Organic Carbonates. Part XV. Application of the Kirkwood-Buff Theory to the Study of Interactions in Liquid Mixtures Containing Dialkyl Carbonates and Alkanes,Benzene, CCl4 or 1-Alkanols

Binary liquid mixtures containing a dialkyl carbonate (dimethyl or diethyl carbonate) and organic solvents such as alkanes, benzene, CCl₄, or 1-alkanols were studied within the framework of the Kirkwood-Buff formalism. The Kirkwood-Buff integrals, linear coefficients of preferential solvation and local mole fractions were calculated. Results were interpreted assuming that the mixtures with alkanes or 1-alkanols are not random mixtures, which can be ascribed to the existence of strong dipolar interactions between like molecules. Systems containing benzene or CCl₄ are both random and more ordered because of the charge transfer or dipole/induced dipole interactions between the polar group of the solute (O–CO–O) and the polarizable solvent molecules. The effect of increasing temperature was also examined.     

The Enantioresolution of n-Benzoyl and Its Analogs Derivatized Amino Acids on Cyclodextrin Bonded Chiral Stationary Phases Using a Nonaqueous Acetonitrile-Based Mobile Phase

The separation of amino acids into enantiomers while derivatizing with benzoyl chlorides is demonstrated. It was found that enantioselectivity among these reagents tagging with the same amino acid is quite different and is very sensitive to its structural variations. A noninclusion complexation mechanism i.e. external association is thought to involve in the separation carried out with a nonaqueous polar organic mobile phase. Results also indicate that the chiral recognition seems to be controlled either by moieties from tagging reagents or functional groups on all amino acids examined in this study on the basis of competition. The polarity of side-chain group on peptide backbone can not be ignored in achieving a successful separation. Furthermore, chiral recognition appears to closely rely upon the location of stereogenic center that is simultaneously attached by amino and carboxyl groups. Finally, mechanism involved will be explored structurally with these tagging reagents derivatized amino acids which structures are highly ordered and amine-containing compounds with structures similar to that of amino acid.     

Stationary and mobile phases in hydrophilic interaction chromatography: a review

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) is valuable alternative to reversed-phase liquid chromatography separations of polar, weakly acidic or basic samples. In principle, this separation mode can be characterized as normal-phase chromatography on polar columns in aqueous-organic mobile phases rich in organic solvents (usually acetonitrile). Highly organic HILIC mobile phases usually enhance ionization in the electrospray ion source of a mass spectrometer, in comparison to mobile phases with higher concentrations of water generally used in reversed-phase (RP) LC separations of polar or ionic compounds, which is another reason for increasing popularity of this technique. Various columns can be used in the HILIC mode for separations of peptides, proteins, oligosaccharides, drugs, metabolites and various natural compounds: bare silica gel, silica-based amino-, amido-, cyano-, carbamate-, diol-, polyol-, zwitterionic sulfobetaine, or poly(2-sulphoethyl aspartamide) and other polar stationary phases chemically bonded on silica gel support, but also ion exchangers or zwitterionic materials showing combined HILIC-ion interaction retention mechanism. Some stationary phases are designed to enhance the mixed-mode retention character. Many polar columns show some contributions of reversed phase (hydrophobic) separation mechanism, depending on the composition of the mobile phase, which can be tuned to suit specific separation problems. Because the separation selectivity in the HILIC mode is complementary to that in reversed-phase and other modes, combinations of the HILIC, RP and other systems are attractive for two-dimensional applications. This review deals with recent advances in the development of HILIC phase separation systems with special attention to the properties of stationary phases. The effects of the mobile phase, of sample structure and of temperature on separation are addressed, too.     

Screening approach for chiral separation of pharmaceuticals IV. Polar organic solvent chromatography

The aim of this work is to determine generic screening conditions and an initial simple separation strategy allowing the rapid separation of drug enantiomers in polar organic solvent chromatography (POSC). Four cellulose/amylose-based stationary phases were investigated in detail using two mobile phase basis solvents commonly applied in this mode, i.e. acetonitrile and methanol. Polar mode is interesting for use in purification of enantiomers. In a first step, the parameters potentially influencing the separation, such as addition of an alcohol to the polar organic solvent or the type of mobile phase additive(s), were examined by means of experimental designs. Afterwards, the factors found most important are investigated in more detail. Results showed that the cellulose- and amylose-based stationary phases have very broad and complementary enantiorecognition abilities in the POSC mode. The type of organic solvent for the mobile phase appeared to have a dramatic influence on the quality of the separation. Based on the results, a screening strategy was proposed. Enantioseparation was observed in more than 85% of the tested compounds and analysis times of last eluted peak were usually below 10 min.     

Are the asserted advantages of organic solvents in capillary electrophoresis real? A critical discussion

Background electrolytes (BGEs) prepared in pure organic solvents are common alternatives to aqueous BGEs in capillary electrophoresis. Several general advantages of organic solvents over water have been asserted in the literature, namely (i) organic solvents increase the separation selectivity; (ii) organic solvents increase the separation efficiency; (iii) high separation voltages and/or high BGE ionic strengths can be used in organic solvents due to lower electric current compared to water. Related assumptions are that (iv) due to higher field strengths applicable in organic solvents the analysis time is shorter than in aqueous BGEs, and (v) the solubility and/or stability of components (either analytes or BGE chemicals) is higher/better in organic solvents. In the present work, these asserted advantages were critically evaluated based on the physical principles of ion transport and zone dispersion in solution. The result was that many of the above-mentioned general advantages are overestimated or even inexistent; often they have no fundamental basis.     

硅胶色谱柱的亲水作用保留机理及其影响因素

亲水作用色谱（HILIC）是替代反相色谱（RPLC）分离强极性及亲水性化合物的另一色谱模式,其分离机理与RPLC有很大不同,具有和RPLC互补的选择性。在HILIC模式中,采用正相色谱（NPLC）中的极性固定相及含高浓度有机溶剂（通常为乙腈）的水溶液为流动相。硅胶是开发最早、研究最为深入及应用最为广泛的HILIC固定相,本文介绍了硅胶色谱柱的HILIC保留机理,详细概述了操作条件如硅胶柱类型、流动相组成及柱温对HILIC分离的影响,并对硅胶填料色谱柱的HILIC模式的发展方向与应用前景进行了展望。     

Supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry for chemical analysis

Chromatography with a supercritical fluid as the mobile phase was suggested more than four decades ago (Klesper, E., Corwin, A. H., Turner, D. A., J. Org. Chem. 1962, 27, 700-701). Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is basically a hybrid of GC and LC that eases the resolution of a mixture of compounds not conveniently resolved by either GC or LC. The mobile phases for SFC have low viscosities and high diffusion coefficients compared to those for HPLC and allow for high efficiency separations. SFC uses supercritical fluid as the mobile phase, polar organic solvents as the modifiers in conjunction with acidic/basic compounds as additives to run the chromatographic process like in HPLC. In many applications, SFC-based methods are advantageous over HPLC-based methods as a separation tool in terms of efficiency and economical impact perspectives. Today, the availability of commercial hardware and API interfaces with a mass spectrometer makes SFC even more widely applicable for chemical analysis in many research fields. This review summarizes a variety of novel SFC-MS methods for chemical analysis that have been reported in the peer-reviewed publications.