New oxo-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazine stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography

A new oxo-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazine bonded stationary phase (OCATS) for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was prepared using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as coupling reagent. The structure of new material was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The chromatographic performance and retention mechanism of the new stationary phase were evaluated in reversed-phase mode compared with ODS using different solute probes including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mono-substituted benzenes, disubstituted benzene isomers. The new OCATS stationary phase could provide various interactions for different solutes, such as hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, ππ and inclusion interactions. The synergistic effects resulting from aromatic rings, bridging oxygen atoms and triazine nitrogen atoms and alkyl linkers in the new material improved the separation selectivity by multiple retention mechanisms. The retention behaviors of the analytes on OCATS column were explained with the assistance of quantum chemistry calculation results using DFT-B3LYP/STO-3G* base group. The OCATS column was successfully employed for the analysis of melamine in infant formula.

► Oxo-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazine was first used to prepare stationary phases for HPLC.
► The new phase was a novel stationary phase concerning multiple retention mechanism.
► The quantum chemistry calculation method was used to investigate the separation mechanism.
► The OCATS column could be employed for the analysis of melamine avoiding ion pair reagent.