"Thiol-ene" click chemistry: a facile and versatile route for the functionalization of porous polymer monoliths

Contribution of the "Click Chemistry" Toolbox for the Design, Synthesis, and Resulting Applications of Innovative and Efficient Separative Supports: Time for Assessment

The last two decades have seen the rapid expansion of click chemistry methodology in various domains closely related to organic chemistry. It has notably been widely developed in the area of surface chemistry, mainly because of the high-yielding character of reactions of the "click" type. Especially, this powerful chemical reaction toolbox has been adapted to the preparation of stationary phases from the corresponding chromatographic supports. A plethora of selectors can thus be immobilized on either organic, inorganic, or hybrid stationary phases that can be used in different chromatographic modes. This review first highlights the few different chemical ligation strategies of the "click" type that are up to now mainly devoted to the development of functionalized supports for separation sciences. Then, it gives in a second part an up-to-date survey of the different studies dedicated to the preparation of click chemistry-based chromatographic supports while highlighting the powerful and versatile character of the "click" ligation strategy for the design, synthesis, and developments of more and more complex systems that can find promising applications in the area of analytical sciences, in domains as varied as enantioselective separation, glycomics, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, etc.

Host-guest interactions for extracting antibiotics with a γ-cyclodextrin poly(glycidyl-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) hybrid sorbent

A procedure for the solid-phase extraction of antibiotics (enoxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and sparfloxacin) in water has been developed. The sorbent used is based on a poly(glycidyl-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) network, whose previously modified surface has been functionalized with γ-cyclodextrin through a click-chemistry reaction. The architecture of the material has been characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, N₂ adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, showing good capability to be used as a filler for extraction cartridges. The optimization of the extraction methodology shows good intra-day and inter-day repeatability of the extraction procedure, with coefficients of variation between 2.5 and 5.1% and the possibility of reusing the material at least five times. The detection limits of the method have been established at the μg L^-1 level, confirming the possibility of quantifying trace levels. To end, real groundwater samples have been analyzed and the results are comparable with those obtained with a reference method. The proposed material can be used for assessing the presence of antibiotics in aqueous environments through an extraction procedure taking advantage of the presence of γ-cyclodextrin on its structure.

Poly(carboxyethyl acrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) precursor monolith with bonded octadecyl ligands for use in reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

A carboxy precursor monolithic column, namely poly(carboxy ethyl acrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) was first produced in a 100 μm i.d. fused-silica capillary and subsequently surface bonded with n-octadecyl (C₁₈ ) ligands by a post-polymerization functionalization process with octadecylamine in the presence of N,N´-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The bonding of octadecyl ligands was achieved via an amide linkage between the carboxy functions of the precursor monolith and the amino group of the octadecylamine compound. The resulting C₁₈ monolith exhibited a very low electroosmotic flow (EOF), a fact that required the incorporation of small amounts of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) in the polymerization solution to produce a precursor monolith with fixed negative charges of sulfonate groups. This may indicate that the conjugation of the carboxy functions with octadecylamine occurred to a large extent so that the amount of residual carboxy functions was sparsely dispersed and not enough to produce a desirable EOF. The EOF velocity of the C₁₈ column having fixed negative charges provided by the incorporated AMPS increased with increasing ACN content of the mobile phase signaling an increased binding of mobile phase ions to the polar amide linkages near the monolithic surface, and a decreased viscosity of the mobile phase, both of which would result in increased EOF velocity. The C₁₈ monolithic column constituted a novel nonpolar sorbent for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography for nonpolar solutes, e.g., alkylbenzenes, alkylphenyl ketones, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and slightly polar compounds including phenol and chlorophenols. The C₁₈ monolithic column exhibited relatively high selectivity toward chlorophenols differing by one chloro substituent.

Organic polymer monolithic columns with incorporated bare and cyano-modified fumed silica nanoparticles for use in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

This research article presents the preparation and characterization of monolithic columns with incorporated bare fumed silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) and cyano-modified FNSPs (CN-FSNPs) and their subsequent use in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) of neutral, polar, and low molecular weight solutes. The monolithic support was based on the in situ polymerization of glyceryl monomethacrylate (GMM) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) yielding the poly(GMM-co-EDMA) monolith for the incorporation of bare FNSPs and of CN-FSNPs. The poly(GMM-co-EDMA) functioned as a “true support” for bare FSNPs and CN-FSNPs “stationary phases” as manifested by bare FSNPs and CN-FSNPs being the major contributors to solute retention and column selectivity. Overall, the prepared bare FSNPs and CN-FSNPs stationary phases proved useful in HILIC of small polar solutes including dimethylformamide, formamide, thiourea, nucleobases, nucleosides, organic acids, food additives, vitamins, and biological amines.

Various Strategies in Post-Polymerization Functionalization of Organic Polymer-Based Monoliths Used in Liquid Phase Separation Techniques

This review article is aimed at summarizing the various strategies that have been developed so far for post-polymerization functionalization (PPF) of organic polymer-based monoliths used in liquid phase separation techniques, namely HPLC at all scales and capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The reader will find the organic reactions performed on monolithic columns for grafting the chromatographic ligands needed for solving the separation problems on hand. This process involves therefore the fabrication of template monoliths that carry reactive functional groups to which chromatographic ligands can be covalently attached in a post-polymerization kind of approach. That is, the template monolith that has been optimized in terms of pore structure and other morphology can be readily modified and tailor made on column to fit a particular separation. The review article will not only cover the various strategies developed so far but also describe their separation applications. To the best of our knowledge, this review article will be the first of its kind.

A poly(glycidyl-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) nanohybrid modified with β-cyclodextrin as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of phenolic compounds

A hybrid material made of β-cyclodextrin anchored to a polymeric network is described and evaluated as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of phenolic compounds (phenol, cresol isomers, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 4-ethylphenol, 4-vinylphenol, 4-ethylguaiacol, guaiacol, and eugenol). The polymeric backbone of the sorbent consists of a poly(glycidyl-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) network, whose surface has been modified with β-cyclodextrin by a click-chemistry based procedure. The resulting material has been characterized by different techniques, and it has shown to be viable as a sorbent for its use in extraction cartridges. In this way, a method for the determination of the above analytes in tea has been validated. Under optimum conditions, the method has good repeatability, with coefficients of variation between 0.6 and 7.2%. In addition, recoveries from spiked samples at the level of 50 μg L^-1 are between 57 and 101%. The method has been then applied to the determination of phenolic compounds in the drinkable portion of infusions made from tea bags. The quantification has been carried out by using gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry detector. Following their elution from the sorbent with a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol, the limits of quantification reached are between 4.6 and 400 μg L^-1. Results have been compared with those obtained with a reference method by using the paired t-test for comparing individual differences. The solid phase is reusable, and no cyclodextrin is lost during extraction due to its covalent anchoring to the polymeric support. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the structure and characterization of the hybrid material made of β-cyclodextrin anchored to a polymeric network. The material is described and evaluated as a sorbent for the solid-phase extraction of phenolic compounds.

Advancements in the preparation of high-performance liquid chromatographic organic polymer monoliths for the separation of small-molecule drugs

The various advantages of organic polymer monoliths, including relatively simple preparation processes, abundant monomer availability, and a wide application range of pH, have attracted the attention of chromatographers. Organic polymer monoliths prepared by traditional methods only have macropores and mesopores, and micropores of less than 50 nm are not commonly available. These typical monoliths are suitable for the separation of biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, but their ability to separate small molecular compounds is poor. In recent years, researchers have successfully modified polymer monoliths to achieve uniform compact pore structures. In particular, microporous materials with pores of 50 nm or less that can provide a large enough surface area are the key to the separation of small molecules. In this review, preparation methods of polymer monoliths for high-performance liquid chromatography, including ultra-high cross-linking technology, post-surface modification, and the addition of nanomaterials, are discussed. Modified monolithic columns have been used successfully to separate small molecules with obvious improvements in column efficiency.

Facile preparation of multi-functionalized hybrid monoliths via two-step photo-initiated reactions for two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A facile approach was developed to prepare hybrid monoliths with different functions via two-step photo-initiated reactions. Firstly, acrylopropyl polyhedral oligomertic silsesquioxane (acryl-POSS) and propargyl acrylate (PA) were used as precursors to synthesize alkynyl-functionalized hybrid monoliths via photo-initiated free radical polymerization. Secondly, the hybrid monoliths were modified with 1-octadecanethiol (ODT) and sodium 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate (SMPS) via photo-initiated thiol-yne click reaction to prepare reversed-phase (RP) and strong cation-exchange (SCX) hybrid monoliths, respectively. The results of chromatographic characterization indicated that the column efficiencies for alkylbenzenes on ODT-modified hybrid monolith reached 84,000-87,700 plates per meter at the velocity of 0.58mm/s, and also revealed a retention-independent efficient performance of small molecules in isocratic elution. The SMPS-modified hybrid monolith exhibited both hydrophobicity and ion-exchange mechanisms, and the dynamic binding capacity was calculated to be 1.4×10^-4μmol/cm. Human Hela cells tryptic digest was well separated on ODT-modified hybrid monolith in one-dimensional RPLC-MS/MS, and 2786 unique peptides and 685 proteins were identified. Furthermore, the SMPS-modified monolith coupled with ODT-modified monolith was used for two-dimensional separation of human Hela cells tryptic digest in SCX-RPLC-MS/MS, and the results showed that 9744 unique peptides and 2749 proteins were identified. Compared to those identified in one-dimensional RP system, the total numbers of unique peptides and proteins identified in SCX-RP system increased by 249.7% and 301.3%, respectively.

Morphological Properties of Methacrylate-Based Polymer Monoliths: From Gel Porosity to Macroscopic Inhomogeneities

Shaping chemical interfaces of hard and soft matter materials into physical morphologies that guarantee excellent transport properties is of central importance for technologies relying on adsorption, separation, and reaction at the interface. Polymer monoliths with a hierarchically structured pore space, for example, are widely used in flow-driven processes, whose efficiency depends on the morphology of the support material over several length scales. Compared with alternative support structures, particularly silica monoliths, polymer monoliths yield lower efficiency, which suggests a suboptimal morphology. Based on physical reconstruction by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy we evaluate the structural features of a methacrylate-based polymer monolith from the pore scale to the column scale. The morphological data reveal a homogeneous polymer skeleton with a solute-impenetrable core-porous shell architecture and a heterogeneous macropore space that suffers from inhomogeneities at the short-range and the transcolumn scale. Although the morphology of the polymer phase is favorable to efficient mass transport, the performance of the polymer monolith is limited by severe transcolumn gradients in macroporosity and macropore size. We propose to overcome these morphological limitations by pursuing a preparation strategy that involves active rather than passive shaping of the macropore space, for example, by using silica monoliths as templating structures for polymer monolith preparation.

Sulfur and Its Role In Modern Materials Science

Although well-known and studied for centuries, sulfur continues to be at the center of an extensive array of scientific research topics. As one of the most abundant elements in the Universe, a major by-product of oil refinery processes, and as a common reaction site within biological systems, research involving sulfur is both broad in scope and incredibly important to our daily lives. Indeed, there has been renewed interest in sulfur-based reactions in just the past ten years. Sulfur research spans the spectrum of topics within the physical sciences including research on improving energy efficiency, environmentally friendly uses for oil refinery waste products, development of polymers with unique optical and mechanical properties, and materials produced for biological applications. This Review focuses on some of the latest exciting ways in which sulfur and sulfur-based reactions are being utilized to produce materials for application in energy, environmental, and other practical areas.

Methacrylate Polymer Monoliths for Separation Applications

This review summarizes the development of methacrylate-based polymer monoliths for separation science applications. An introduction to monoliths is presented, followed by the preparation methods and characteristics specific to methacrylate monoliths. Both traditional chemical based syntheses and emerging additive manufacturing methods are presented along with an analysis of the different types of functional groups, which have been utilized with methacrylate monoliths. The role of methacrylate based porous materials in separation science in industrially important chemical and biological separations are discussed, with particular attention given to the most recent developments and challenges associated with these materials. While these monoliths have been shown to be useful for a wide variety of applications, there is still scope for exerting better control over the porous architectures and chemistries obtained from the different fabrication routes. Conclusions regarding this previous work are drawn and an outlook towards future challenges and potential developments in this vibrant research area are presented. Discussed in particular are the potential of additive manufacturing for the preparation of monolithic structures with pre-defined multi-scale porous morphologies and for the optimization of surface reactive chemistries.

Monolithic stationary phases with incorporated fumed silica nanoparticles. Part I. Polymethacrylate-based monolithic column with incorporated bare fumed silica nanoparticles for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

Fumed silica nanoparticles (FSNPs), were incorporated for the first time into a polymethacrylate monolithic column containing glyceryl monomethacrylate (GMM) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in order to develop a new monolithic column for hydrophilic interaction high performance liquid chromatography (HILIC). When compared to poly(GMM-EDMA) monolithic column without FSNPs, the same monolithic column with incorporated FSNPs yielded important effects on HILIC separations. The effects of monomers and FSNPs content of the polymerization mixture on the performance of the monolithic column were examined in details, and the optimized stationary phase was investigated over a wide range of mobile phase composition with polar acidic, weakly basic and neutral analytes including hydroxy benzoic acids, nucleotides, nucleosides, dimethylformamide, formamide and thiourea. The retention of these analytes was mainly controlled by hydrophilic interactions with the FSNPs and electrostatic repulsion from the negatively charged silica surface in the case of hydroxy benzoic acids and nucleotides. The electrostatic repulsion was minimized by decreasing the pH of the aqueous component of the mobile phase, which in turn enhanced the retention of acidic solutes. Nucleotides were best separated using step gradient elution at decreasing pH as well as ACN concentration in the mobile phase. Improved peak shape and faster analysis of nucleosides were attained by a fast linear gradient elution with a shallow decrease in the ACN content of the ACN-rich mobile phase. The run-to-run and column-to-column reproducibility were satisfactory. The percent relative standard deviations (%RSDs) for the retention times of tested solutes were lower than 2.5% under isocratic conditions and lower than 3.5 under gradient conditions.

Photochemical Synthesis and Versatile Functionalization Method of a Robust Porous Poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate-co-allyl methacrylate) Monolith Dedicated to Radiochemical Separation in a Centrifugal Microfluidic Platform

The use of a centrifugal microfluidic platform is an alternative to classical chromatographic procedures for radiochemistry. An ion-exchange support with respect to the in situ light-addressable process of elaboration is specifically designed to be incorporated as a radiochemical sample preparation module in centrifugal microsystem devices. This paper presents a systematic study of the synthesis of the polymeric porous monolith poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate-co-allyl methacrylate) used as a solid-phase support and the versatile and robust photografting process of the monolith based on thiol-ene click chemistry. The polymerization reaction is investigated, varying the formulation of the polymerisable mixture. The robustness of the stationary phase was tested in concentrated nitric acid. Thanks to their unique "easy-to-use" features, centrifugal microfluidic platforms are potential successful candidates for the downscaling of chromatographic separation of radioactive samples (automation, multiplexing, easy integration in glove-boxes environment, and low cost of maintenance).

Novel in-capillary polymeric monoliths arising from glycerol carbonate methacrylate for flow-through catalytic and chromatographic applications

In-capillary reactive polymer monoliths have been prepared from glycerol carbonate methacrylate functional monomer, suitably functionalized and further applied to separation science and flow-through catalysis, respectively.

Thiol–ene click chemistry for the design of diol porous monoliths with hydrophilic surface interaction ability: a capillary electrochromatography study

Thiol–ene click chemistry provides an efficient surface grafting strategy for designing diol monoliths meant for hydrophilic interaction capillary electrochromatography.

Graphene oxide modified by betaine moieties for improvement of electrorheological performance

Novel graphene oxide bearing betaine moieties as sulfobetaine (GO-SB), carboxybetaine (GO-CB) and carboxybetaine ester (GO-CBE) moieties were prepared in two simple fabrication processes based on silanization and a thiol–ene click-reaction.

Preparation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane based hybrid monoliths by thiol-ene click chemistry for capillary liquid chromatography

A facile organic–silica hybrid monolith was prepared by a thiol-ene click reaction of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane methacryl substituted (POSS-MA) with 1,4-bis(mercaptoacetoxy) butane (BMAB) using toluene and dodecanol as a porogenic system.

Post-polymerization functionalization of poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT) via thiol–ene “click” chemistry

Post-polymerization functionalization using thiol–ene “click” chemistry provides an effective, convenient means to modify the surface properties of conjugated polymers such as poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT).

One-pot synthesis of polymer monolithic column by combination of free radical polymerization and azide–alkyne cycloaddition “click” reaction and its application in capillary liquid chromatography

A facile “one-pot” method was developed for the preparation of polymer monoliths by combination of free radical polymerization and CuAAC click reaction.

A controlled thiol-initiated surface polymerization strategy for the preparation of hydrophilic polymer stationary phases

A controlled thiol-initiated surface polymerization strategy has been successfully developed and employed to prepare hydrophilic polymer stationary phases, which exhibited excellent chromatographic performance and protein non-fouling properties.

Recent advances in nonpolar and polar organic monoliths for HPLC and CEC

This article is aimed at providing a review of the progress made in the field over the period 2011 to present in order to expand in parts on two previous reviews (S. Karenga and Z. El Rassi, Electrophoresis, 2011, 32, 90-104; D. Gunasena and Z. El Rassi, Electrophoresis, 2012, 33, 251-261). In brief, this review article describes progress made in nonpolar and polar monoliths used in RP HPLC and CEC and in hydrophilic interaction LC/CEC, respectively. This article is by no means an exhaustive review of the literature; it is rather a survey of the recent progress made in the field with 69 references published on nonpolar and polar polymeric monoliths.

Synthesis of non-linear protein dimers through a genetically encoded Thiol-ene reaction

Site-specific incorporation of bioorthogonal unnatural amino acids into proteins provides a useful tool for the installation of specific functionalities that will allow for the labeling of proteins with virtually any probe. We demonstrate the genetic encoding of a set of alkene lysines using the orthogonal PylRS/PylTCUA pair in Escherichia coli. The installed double bond functionality was then applied in a photoinitiated thiol-ene reaction of the protein with a fluorescent thiol-bearing probe, as well as a cysteine residue of a second protein, showing the applicability of this approach in the formation of heterogeneous non-linear fused proteins.

One-pot preparation of glutathione-silica hybrid monolith for mixed-mode capillary liquid chromatography based on "thiol-ene" click chemistry

A novel glutathione (GSH)-silica hybrid monolithic column synthesized via a combination of thiol-ene click reaction and one-pot process was described, where thiol-end GSH organic monomer and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were mixed with hydrolyzed tetramethyloxysilane (TMOS) and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MAPS) and then introduced into a fused-silica capillary for simultaneous polycondensation and "thiol-ene" click reaction to form the GSH-silica hybrid monolith. The effects of the molar ratio of TMOS/γ-MAPS, the amount of GSH, and the volume of porogen on the morphology, permeability and pore properties of the prepared GSH-silica hybrid monoliths were studied in detail. A uniform monolithic network with high porosity was obtained. A series of test compounds including alkylbenzenes, amides, and anilines were used to evaluate the retention behaviors of the GSH-silica hybrid monolithic column. The results demonstrated that the prepared GSH-silica hybrid monolith exhibited multiple interactions including hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, as well as cation exchange interaction. The run-to-run, column-to-column and batch-to-batch reproducibilities of the GSH-silica hybrid monolith for phenols' retention were satisfactory with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 1.3% (n=5), 2.6% (n=3) and 3.2% (n=3), respectively, indicating the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method. In addition, the GSH-silica hybrid monolith was applied to the separation of nucleotides, peptides and protein tryptic digests, respectively. The successful applications suggested the potential of the GSH-silica hybrid monolith in complex sample analysis.