Separation and indirect detection of small-chain peptides using chromophoric mobile phase additives

Ruthenium(II) 1,10-phenanthroline, Ru(phen)3(2+), and ruthenium(II) 2,2'-bipyridyl, Ru(bipy)3(2+), salts were evaluated as mobile phase additives for the liquid chromatographic separation of small-chain peptides on a polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymeric (Hamilton PRP-1) stationary phase. In a basic mobile phase peptides are anions, and retention, resolution and detection occur because of the interactions between the stationary phase, the RuII complex and the peptide anion. Since the RuII complex concentration changes in the analyte band relative to the background eluent RuII complex concentration, the peptide can be detected by indirect photometric detection using the wavelength where the RuII complex absorbs. Peptide analyte peaks may be positive or negative depending on the counter-anion and its concentration. Small-chain peptides that do not contain chromophoric side-chains are detected without derivatization at about 0.1 nmol injected at a 3:1 signal-to-noise ratio. Factors that affect retention, resolution and indirect photometric detection are the RuII complex, its mobile phase concentration, mobile phase pH and solvent composition, and the type and concentration of the mobile phase counter-anion and/or buffer anion.