Abul K. Mallik

New poly(ionic liquid)-grafted silica multi-mode stationary phase for anion-exchange/reversed-phase/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

A new poly(ionic liquid)-grafted silica stationary phase was prepared and characterized. It was then applied for multi-mode chromatographies, including ion-exchange, reversed-phase, and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographies for the effective separation of anions, hydrophobic compounds, and small polar molecules, respectively.

A new imidazolium-embedded C18 stationary phase with enhanced performance in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

In this paper, a new imidazolium-embedded C(18) stationary phase (SiImC(18)) for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described. 1-Allyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid compound having a long alkyl chain and reactive groups was newly prepared and grafted onto 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane-modified silica via a surface-initiated radical-chain transfer addition reaction. The SiImC(18) obtained was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform, and solid-state (13)C and (29)Si cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The selectivity toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons relative to that toward alkylbenzenes exhibited by SiImC(18) was higher than the corresponding selectivity exhibited by a conventional octadecyl silica (ODS) column, which could be explained by electrostatic π-π interaction cationic imidazolium and electron-rich aromatic rings. On the other hand, SiImC(18) also showed high selectivity for polar compounds, which was based on the multiple interaction and retention mechanisms of this phase with different analytes. 1,6-Dinitropyrene and 1,8-dinitropyrene, which form a positional isomer pair of dipolar compounds, were separated successfully with the SiImC(18) phase. Seven nucleosides and bases (i.e. cytidine, uracil, uridine, thymine, guanosine, xanthosine, and adenosine) were separated using only water as the mobile phase within 8min, which is difficult to achieve when using conventional hydrophobic columns such as ODS. The combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions is important for the effective separation of such basic compounds without the use of any organic additive as the eluent in the octadecylimidazolium column.

A facile and specific approach to new liquid chromatography adsorbents obtained by ionic self-assembly

A new ionic-liquid monomer, 1-vinyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide ([C(18)VIm]Br), was prepared and polymerized on porous silica particles by means of a surface-initiated radical chain-transfer reaction. Further modification for functionalization was performed through the exchange of counteranions from bromide to methyl orange (MO). Two new silica-poly(octadecylimidazolium) (Sil-PImC(18)) hybrid materials (Sil-PImC(18)-Br and Sil-PImC(18)-MO) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), and solid-state (13)C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy. Sil-PImC(18)-MO presented ultra-high shape selectivity for constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) both in reversed- and normal-phase HPLC when used as the stationary phase. Fundamental aspects of the molecular shape selectivity were evaluated by using Standard Reference Material (SRM) 869b; the column selectivity test mixture for liquid chromatography. The impact of this phase was also demonstrated by the separation of SRM 1647e (16 priority pollutant PAHs) and several steroid isomers. Enhanced selectivity could be explained by the highly oriented arrangement between the octadecylimidazolium chain and a rigid segment of MO. These findings may open a new window of research for the design of materials used in chromatographic supports, solid extraction, catalysis, and electrolytes by simple modifications of the counterions in the poly(ionic liquid) analogous phase.

Novel approach for the separation of shape-constrained isomers with alternating copolymer-grafted silica in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

This paper describes a novel packing material for high selective reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The organic phase on silica is chemically designed in a way that the weak interaction sites are integrated with high orientation along the polymer main chain and high selectivity can be realized by multiple interactions with solutes. For the above purpose, we synthesized poly(octadecyl acrylate-alt-N-octadecylmaleimide)-grafted silica (Sil-poly(ODA-alt-OMI)) stationary phase. The alternating copolymerization was carried out from 3-marcaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS)-modified silica via surface-initiated radical-chain transfer reaction. Elemental analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT),(1)H NMR, solid-state (13)C cross polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR, and suspended-state (1)H NMR were used to characterize the new organic phase. Aspects of shape selectivity was evaluated with Standard Reference Material (SRM 869b), Column Selectivity Test Mixture for Liquid Chromatography. Enhanced molecular shape selectivity was observed, that lead to the separation of SRM 1647e (16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) in an isocratic elution. The effectiveness of this phase was also demonstrated by the separation of several beta-carotene and tocopherol isomers. The complete baseline separation of the tocopherol isomers was achieved using the Sil-poly(ODA-alt-OMI) phase. Chromatographic study revealed that Sil-poly(ODA-alt-OMI) has extremely high separation ability compared to monomeric and polymeric C(18) columns. Higher shape selectivity of the new RP material can be explained by a pi-pi and dipole-dipole interaction mechanism.

Enhancement of molecular shape selectivity by in situ anion-exchange in poly(octadecylimidazolium) silica column

This paper demonstrates that in situ anion exchange could be successfully applied as a new method for modifying the surface properties of a poly(octadecylimidazolium)-grafted silica stationary phase to tune and enhance selectivity. Specifically, the original stationary phase was prepared by surface-initiated radical chain-transfer polymerization of 1-vinyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide as an ionic liquid monomer; the Br(-) counter anion was then exchanged for methyl orange via an in-column process. As evaluated via the separation of constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the in situ exchange enhanced the molecular shape-selectivity performance. Enhanced selectivity was also confirmed using Standard Reference Material (SRM) 869b (column selectivity test mixture) and SRM 1647e (16 priority pollutant PAHs). The reproducibility of new column was tested via the separation of pyrene, triphenylene, benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene with methanol as eluent at 10 °C and the RSD values (n=12) of the retention factors of them are within 0.27-0.77%.

Versatile ligands for high-performance liquid chromatography: An overview of ionic liquid-functionalized stationary phases.

Ionic liquids (ILs), a class of unique substances composed purely by cation and anions, are renowned for their fascinating physical and chemical properties, such as negligible volatility, high dissolution power, high thermal stability, tunable structure and miscibility. They are enjoying ever-growing applications in a great diversity of disciplines. IL-modified silica, transforming the merits of ILs into chromatographic advantages, has endowed the development of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) stationary phase with considerable vitality. In the last decade, IL-functionalized silica stationary phases have evolved into a series of branches to accommodate to different HPLC modes. An up-to-date overview of IL-immobilized stationary phases is presented in this review, and divided into five parts according to application mode, i.e., ion-exchange, normal-phase, reversed-phase, hydrophilic interaction and chiral recognition. Specific attention is channeled to synthetic strategies, chromatographic behavior and separation performance of IL-functionalized silica stationary phases.

Molecular Shape Recognition through Self-Assembled Molecular Ordering: Evaluation with Determining Architecture and Dynamics

The relationship between molecular gel-forming compound-based double-alkylated L-glutamide-derived functional group-integrated organic phase (Sil-FIP) structure and chromatographic performance is investigated and compared with widely used alkyl phases (C(30), polymeric and monomeric C(18)) as references. The functional group-integrated molecular gel on silica is chemically designed newly in a way that the weak interaction sites are integrated with high orientation and high selectivity can be realized by multiple interactions with the solutes. Its functions can be emphasized by being immobilizable with a terminal carboxyl group and the fact that five amide bonds including β-alanine subunit are integrated per molecule. Furthermore, its self-assembling function can be detected by monitoring of the chiroptical property. Temperature-dependent circular dichroism (CD) intensity was determined as an indicator of chirality for the gel forming compounds. (13)C cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectra of the Sil-FIP phase indicate that predominance of gauche conformations exists at higher temperature (above 30 °C). (29)Si CP/MAS NMR were carried out to investigate the degree of cross-linking of the silane and silane functionality of the modified silica. Temperature-dependent (13)C CP/MAS NMR and suspended-state (1)H NMR measurements of the Sil-FIP phase exhibit the dynamic behavior of the alkyl chains. To correlate the NMR and CD results with temperature-dependent chromatographic studies, standard reference materials (SRM 869b and SRM 1647e), column selectivity test mixture for liquid chromatography was employed. Additional shape selectivity text mixtures were also used to clarify the mechanism of shape selectivity performance of Sil-FIP compared with commercially available columns. The evaluation with the spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses presents very important information on the surface morphology of the new organic phase and the molecular recognition process. Integrated and ordered functional groups were investigated to be the main driving force for very high molecular shape selectivity of the Sil-FIP phase.

Molecular-shape selectivity by molecular gel-forming compounds: bioactive and shape-constrained isomers through the integration and orientation of weak interaction sites

A molecular gel system was assembled on carrier particles and the integrated effect of weak interaction sites enabled highly efficient separation of the bioactive and shape-constrained isomers of tocopherols, β-carotene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by multiple interaction mechanisms.

Preparation and chromatographic evaluation of new branch-type diamide-embedded octadecyl stationary phase with enhanced shape selectivity

A novel branch-type diamide-embedded octadecyl stationary phase was prepared by facile amidation. The preparation of this new phase involves the synthesis of new bifunctional silane ligand and surface modification of spherical silica via anchoring of silane coupling agent. The obtained diamide-embedded octadecyl stationary phase demonstrated excellent hydrophobic selectivity, as well as enhanced shape and planarity selectivity in comparison to commercial polymeric and monomeric C18 phases, respectively, as revealed by the systematic investigation into its liquid chromatographic retention of isomeric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The applicability of this new stationary phase was further testified by the effective separation of isomeric compounds belong to different chemical classes, including chain isomers of alkylbenzenes, and positional isomers of substituted aromatics. An in-depth analysis of the separation mechanisms other than molecular shape recognition involved in the new stationary phase was performed using a linear solvation energy relationships model and compared with its monoamide and pure C18 counterparts correspondingly. The performance of the new stationary phase in quantitative analysis of phenols from real-world samples was also evaluated.

Strategic achievement for the baseline separation of tocopherol isomers by integration of weak interaction sites on alternating copolymer

The complete baseline separation of vitamin E (tocopherol) isomers is described for the first time using newly developed alternating copolymer–silica (5 μm particle size) hybrids. The separation is driven by high molecular planarity (shape) selectivity due to multiple interactions with the integrated weak interaction sites towards the solute molecules.