Separation of geometrical isomers of sesquiterpene and diterpene alcohols on bare silica by carbon dioxide supercritical fluid chromatography

Abstract

The application of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with modified carbon dioxide to the separation of geometrical isomers of several sesquiterpene or diterpene alcohols is reported. The chromatographic system consists of bare silica (250×4.6 mm i. d.) with carbon dioxide-methanol mobile phase and UV detection. A mixture of sesquiterpene alcohols, (2E-6E)-farnesol, α-bisabolol, (E)-nerolidol and (Z)-nerolidol, and also of two diterpene alcohols, (R)- and (S)-geranyllinalol, was separated by SFC using a mixture of carbon dioxide modified with 0.5–1.0% methanol as mobile phase.