A versatile polar-embedded polyphenyl phase for multimodal separation in liquid chromatography

A new polar-embedded aromatic stationary phase has been prepared by covalently attaching p-biphenylacetamide silane to silica spheres. The retention behavior of this phase was compared with an alkylamide counterpart and octadecyl phases using different classes of analytes, including geometric isomers and congeners from Standard Reference Materials 869b, 870 and 1647e, positional isomers of electron-deficient benzenes, as well as alkylbenzenes and alkylbiphenyls. The relationship between shape selectivity and surface chemistry of stationary phase was comparatively studied. Influences of the embedded group and ligand length and/or size on the chromatographic selectivity towards various congeners were established. The new polar-embedded aromatic phase possessed unique benzenoid affinity, enhanced aromatic selectivity, distinct charge-transfer properties, as well as good water-wettablity, as a result it can be employed in normal phase, reversed-phase and per-aqueous modes.