Abstract:

Based on the unique molecular structure of ferrocene and its potential as a new liquid chromatography separation medium, a new silica-bonded (4-cyclopentadienyl benzoic acid-iron-toluene) hexafluorophosphoric acid stationary phase was prepared. The structure of this new material was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis et al. The chromatographic performance and retention mechanism of this new stationary phase were evaluated using different solute probes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), positional isomers of naphthylamine, positional isomers of nitro-aniline, nitroimidazoles, organic phosphorus et al. It could provide various action sites for different solutes in normal-phase chromatography such as π electron transfer, π-π electron interactions, dipole-dipole interactions, and electrostatic interactions with the substrates. And the possible separation mechanisms are discussed.

Key words: (4-cyclopentadienyl benzoic acid-iron-toluene) hexafluorophosphoric acid, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), separation mechanism, stationary phase