Development of a polar-embedded stationary phase with unique properties

This paper describes a new polar-embedded stationary phase that contains an internal sulfonamide functional group coupled with an ether linkage. The synthesis involves functionalization of spherical silica particles with ligands prepared in a multi-step synthesis. The resulting material contains 16.5% carbon, corresponding to a ligand coverage of 2.4 μmol/m2. Chromatographic evaluations indicates that the new stationary phase exhibits lower polarity than any other polar-embedded packings investigated, with additional features such as low silanol activity, excellent compatibility with 100% aqueous mobile phases, higher shape selectivity for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and strong affinity to nitro-containing compounds.