A versatile approach to the reproducible synthesis of functionalized polysiloxane stationary phases

Exploitation of the full potential of selector-modified polysiloxanes as chromatographic stationary phases is limited because conventional methods of silicone synthesis involve strong acids or strong nucleophiles such as water or bases; under these conditions many potentially useful selectors decompose. The general approach to polysiloxane synthesis presented herein gives access to functionalized polysiloxanes under mild conditions. The functional groups incorporated can serve as chromatographic selectors or as electrophilic sites for secondary modification or cross-linking.