Comparison of chromatographic properties of cyanopropyl-, diol- and aminopropyl- polar-bonded stationary phases by the retention of model compounds in normal-phase liquid chromatography systems

Investigating the effect of polarity of stationary and mobile phases on retention of cannabinoids in normal phase liquid chromatography

This work reports about a screening of four adsorbents with different polarity employed for the separation of the main phytocannabinoids contained in Cannabis sativa L., under normal phase liquid chromatography (NPLC). The effect of polarity and type of interaction mechanisms of the adsorbents (namely Si-, CN-, Diol-, and NH₂-based SPs) on retention has been investigated under a variety of conditions either by using different combinations of apolar solvents (heptane or hexane) and alcohols (ethanol or isopropanol). The columns have also been employed for the separation of a real cannabis sample.

Graphical Abstract

The isolation of water-soluble natural products - challenges, strategies and perspectives

Covering period: up to 2019Water-soluble natural products constitute a relevant group of secondary metabolites notably known for presenting potent biological activities. Examples are aminoglycosides, β-lactam antibiotics, saponins of both terrestrial and marine origin, and marine toxins. Although extensively investigated in the past, particularly during the golden age of antibiotics, hydrophilic fractions have been less scrutinized during the last few decades. This review addresses the possible reasons on why water-soluble metabolites are now under investigated and describes approaches and strategies for the isolation of these natural compounds. It presents examples of several classes of hydrosoluble natural products and how they have been isolated. Novel stationary phases and chromatography techniques are also reviewed, providing a perspective towards a renaissance in the investigation of water-soluble natural products.

Emerging or Underestimated Silica-Based Stationary Phases in Liquid Chromatography

Several newly synthesized or forgotten silica-based stationary phases proposed for liquid chromatography are described, including non-endcapped, short-chain alkyl phases; hydrophilic and polar-endcapped stationary phases; polar-embedded alkyl phases; long-chain alkyl phases. Stationary phases with aromatic, cyanopropyl, diol and aminopropyl functionalities are also reviewed. Stationary phases of particular interest are biomolecular materials - based on immobilized cholesterol, aminoacids, peptides, proteins or lipoproteins. Packing materials involving macrocyclic chemistry (crown ethers; calixarenes; aza-macrocycles; oligo-and polysaccharides including these of marine origin - chitin- or chitosan-based; macrocyclic antibiotics) are discussed. Since many stationary phases developed for one type of applications (e.g. chiral separation) have been found useful in solving other analytical problems (e.g. drug's plasma protein binding ability), it seemed reasonable to discuss particular chemistries behind the stationary phases presented in this review rather than specific types of interactions or chromatographic modes.

Study of the slope of the linear relationship between retention and mobile phase composition (Snyder-Soczewiñski model) in normal phase liquid chromatography with bonded and charge-transfer phases

The Snyder model and the Soczewiñski model are compared on classic NPLC bonded phases using literature data, and on the charge transfer 2, 4-dinitroanilinopropyl (DNAP) column using experimentally collected data. Overall, the Snyder model slightly better predicts the n-slope than the Soczewiñski model. However, both models give comparable uncertainty in predicting n-slope for a given compound. The number of aromatic double bonds was the most suitable descriptor for estimating the relative n-slope of PAHs, as it correlated with behavior better than the number of aromatic rings and is simpler to calculate than the solute adsorption area. On the DNAP phase, a modified Soczewiñski model is suggested to allow for the significant contribution of the aromatic rings to the n-slope. For classic NPLC bonded phases and DNAP columns, the contribution of polar group to the n-slope parallels the adsorption energy of each polar group.

Characterization of a novel pyridinium bromide surface confined ionic liquid stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography under normal phase conditions via linear solvation energy relationships

Utilizing linear solvation free energy relationship methodology, a novel pyridinium bromide surface confined ionic liquid (SCIL) stationary phase was characterized under normal phase high-performance liquid chromatographic conditions. A limited set of neutral aromatic probe solutes were utilized to rapidly assess the utility of the LSER model, using mobile phases of hexane modified with 2-propanol. The excellent correlation of the global fit across the mobile phase composition range used in this study for the experimental and calculated retention values (R(2)=0.994) indicates that the LSER model is an appropriate model of characterizing this polar bonded phase under normal phase conditions. For a limited subset of compounds, retention on the pyridinium bromide SCIL stationary phase is more highly correlated with that obtained on a cyano column than on a diol column under NP conditions.