The synthesis of novel stationary phases for the HPLC group-type separation of several classes of nitrogen containing aromatic compound (NCAC) is described. They allow a molecular sorting of NCACs according to the type of nitrogen functionality. A coal tar pitch was chosen as a complex real-world sample. The NCACs were preconcentrated on neutral alumina followed by a group separation on a hafnium(IV) modified silica into four subfractions containing: (1) the nitrogen-free polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC); (2) the neutral polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANH) together with the nitriles, (3) the aminosubstituted PACs; and (4) the basic PANHs. Each compound group was eluted after a stepwise change of the solvent composition. All fractions were analyzed by GC-MS and a large number of NCACs were identified. The separations are necessary since many compounds are isomeric with compounds containing other functional groups so that MS methods do not suffice to identify the chemical class. The preseparation involves the removal of matrix components and a preconcentration of analytes of low concentration, thus enabling their analysis in complex mixtures.A separation of the (isomeric) neutral PANHs and the nitriles on a nickel(II)-containing metal organic framework (MOF) is also described, thus presenting a simple possibility to analyze nitriles without interference from other constituents of the sample.