Solid Phase Derivatizations in HPLC: Borohydride/Silica Reductions for Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

Abstract Sodium borohydride adsorbed onto silica gel has now been utilized for on-line, pre-and post-analytical column chemical derivatizations via reductions of various organic carbonyl compounds. These on-line reactions have been performed using normal phase HPLC conditions, involving conventional silica gel packings, organic mobile phases, and commercially available HPLC equipment and instrumentation. This approach for on-line HPLC derivatizations has been evaluated for a large number of organic carbonyl compounds, at a variety of temperatures for aldehydes and ketones. The overall rates of such carbonyl reductions via sodium borohydride/silica are sufficiently different as a function of temperature of the reaction to permit for compound/class identifications. Analyte identification can be both qualitative and quantitative, even wherein an analyte co-elutes with a non-carbonyl compound. In-house prepared borohydride/silica gel reactors can be characterized via standard iodine titration procedures along...