Dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid modified silica as a novel reversed-phase/anion-exchange mixed-mode stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract

A dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid modified silica stationary phase was prepared and evaluated by reversed-phase/anion-exchange mixed-mode chromatography. Model compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and anilines) were separated well on the column by reversed-phase chromatography; inorganic anions (bromate, bromide, nitrate, iodide, and thiocyanate), and organic anions (p-aminobenzoic acid, p-anilinesulfonic acid, sodium benzoate, pathalic acid, and salicylic acid) were also separated individually by anion-exchange chromatography. Based on the multiple sites of the stationary phase, the column could separate 14 solutes containing the above series of analytes in one run. The dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid modified silica can interact with hydrophobic analytes by the hydrophobic C6 chain; it can enhance selectivity to aromatic compounds by imidazolium groups; and it also provided anion-exchange and electrostatic interactions with ionic solutes. Compared with a monocationic ionic liquid functionalized stationary phase, the new stationary phase represented enhanced selectivity owing to more interaction sites.