A polar-embedded C30 stationary phase: Preparation and evaluation

• A novel polar-embedded C30 stationary phase was synthesized.
• High column efficiency and suppressed silanol activity.
• Reduced mobility of C30 chain and enhanced π–π interaction.
• Superior shape selectivity over commercial C30 toward PAH isomers.
• Polar group imparted unique selectivity toward polar analytes.

A novel polar-embedded C30 stationary phase has been synthesized and characterized. The polar carbamate group was generated homogeneously in situ by the catalytic reaction between isocyanate and primary alcohol. The simple one-pot synthetic strategy provided an efficient and effective strategy for modification of silica spheres. Efficiency, selectivity and silanol activity of the resulting column were characterized in detail with different classes of analytes that included Standard Reference Materials (SRM) 870, SRM 869b and SRM 1647e, alkylbenzene congeners, as well as polar-substituted aromatics. The polar-embedded C30 stationary phase was found to exhibit excellent shape selectivity.