Sub-1-micron mesoporous silica particles functionalized with cyclodextrin derivative for rapid enantioseparations on ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography

Mesoporous silica particles of relatively uniform sub-1-micron size (0.6–0.9 μm) were successfully prepared by a modified synthesis strategy and applied in chiral separation in an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system. These particles were prepared via a ternary surfactant system (Pluronic P123, F127 and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide) and subsequently derivatized with perphenylcarbamoylated-β-cyclodextrin moieties. The mesoporous silica particles, despite their submicron size, enabled low back-pressure operation on an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system at a maximum flow rate of 2 ml/min. In addition, the particles possessed high surface area (480 m2/g) and thus afforded high cyclodextrin derivative loading (32 μmol/g), demonstrating rapid enantioseparation and good resolution of 6 basic and neutral racemates.