High-Performance Polymer-Based Monolithic Capillary Column

Abstract

In this report, we introduce a new entry of high-performance polymer-based monolithic capillary column for mainly small molecules. This capillary column was prepared using a newly introduced epoxy monomer with diamines. Simply heat-induced polycondensation in an appropriate porogenic solvent afforded a really homogeneous co-continuous monolithic structure having submicrometer-size skeletons with micrometer-size through-pores. We were also able to prepare chiral monolithic columns using a chiral epoxy monomer as well as a chiral diamine. A 21.5-cm-long, 100-μm-i.d. column afforded up to 40 000 theoretical plate numbers (N) for alkylbenzenes in 60% aqueous acetonitrile as a reversed-phase-mode stationary phase. Due to a quite low column pressure drop, a 150-cm-long column was prepared. This long column afforded up to 200 000 plates for alkylbenzenes with only a 4-MPa column pressure drop. In contrast, in 100% acetonitrile, this column has “HILIC” property to show up to 60 000 plates for methanol with a 17.5-cm-long column. In this mode, we were able to separate nucleic acids. In addition, we have prepared a chiral column with both of the chiral epoxy monomers and an amine. This column was able to chirally discriminate a racemic alcohol in a reversed-phase mode.