Enhancement of molecular-shape selectivity in high-performance liquid chromatography through multi-anchoring of comb-shaped polymer on silica

Poly(octadecylacrylate) having plural trimethoxysilyl groups in the side chain (co-ODAn) was newly synthesized and immobilized onto silica through these groups. The liquid chromatographic behavior of silica-supported co-ODAn (Sil-co-ODAn) was investigated and compared with that of Sil-ODAn, in which poly(octadecylacrylate) was immobilized through a terminal trimethoxy group at one side of the polymer main chain. Sil-co-ODAn showed higher selectivity for molecular shape, especially molecular planarity of PAHs than Sil-ODAn.