Evaluation of ethoxynonafluorobutane as a safe and environmentally friendly solvent for chiral normal-phase LC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

Coupling normal-phase LC separation methods to atmospheric pressure ionization (API)-mass spectrometry (MS) for detection can be problematic because of the possible detonation hazard and because nonpolar solvents do not support ionization of the analyte. Unlike achiral separations, enantiomeric separations can be very sensitive to small changes in the separation environment. Thus, completely substituting the main mobile phase component of a normal-phase LC solvent for an environmentally friendly, nonflammable fluorocarbon-ether as a safe and effective solvent must be thoroughly evaluated before it can be recommended for enantioselective separations with API-MS detection. Ethoxynonafluorobutane (ENFB) was used as a normal-phase solvent for the enantioselective separation of 15 compounds on two macrocyclic glycopeptide chiral stationary phases (CSPs) and a new polymeric chiral stationary phase. The chromatographic figures of merit were compared between results obtained with the ENFB mobile phases and traditional heptane-based mobile phases. In addition, the limits of detection (LOD) using the API-MS compatible ENFB were examined, as well as flow rate sensitivities and compatibilities with common polar organic modifier. ENFB is a safe and effective solvent for enantioselective normal-phase/API-MS analyses.