Polar bonded phase with the zwitterionic sulfobetaine functional group. Comparison to silica

A new bonded phase has been prepared by the reaction of n-propylsultone with dimethylaminopropylsilane-modified silica. The resulting functional group is the zwitterionic ammonium propane sulfonate. Chromatographic solvents based on three strong solvents, methylene chloride, diisopropyl ether and acetonitrile, were prepared in hexane. Solutes, including substituted benzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and low-molecular-weight species commonly used as solvents, were chromatographed on the zwitterionic phase and on silica from the same supplier of the dimethylamino phase. The zwitterionic phase is a weaker adsorbent than silica and retentions are less influenced by the type of strong solvent employed, compared to silica. The retention (log k') of solutes on the zwitterionic phase is highly correlated with the free energy of transfer of solute from the vapor phase to water.