A molecular recognition strategy towards tetra-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, TCDDs

Uniformly sized polymeric separation media were prepared using o- or p-xylene as porogenic template to investigate chromatographic selectivity towards tetra-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs). TCDDs having chlorine atoms at ortho positions of phenyl rings were selectively retained on stationary phase prepared with o-xylene as porogenic template, while TCDDs having chlorine atoms at para positions of phenyl ring were found to be retained selectively on the stationary phase imprinted by the porogenic template, p-xylene. Slightly longer cross-linking agent afforded chromatographically selective retention for larger TCDD isomers. It was also found that positional relationship between substituted chlorine atoms was also important for chromatographic recognition.