Synthesis and characterization of phosphorylated polystyrene derivatives for use in chromatography: DNA-like and phospholipid-like behavior

New functional crosslinked polystyrene derivatives have been synthesized. These polymers are substituted with chemical groups such as phosphate, purine, and pyrimidine bases, choline, serine, and nucleotides in order to mimic DNA and phospholipids. For this purpose, hydroxylated polystyrene beads were prepared, where monomer units were substituted via spacers. Then, phosphomonoester groups at various substitution ratios were grafted onto hydroxylated resins by using a phosphorus oxychloride method. Nucleosides and nucleic acid bases derivatives were coupled with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide on phosphorylated polymers whereas nucleotides, phosphorylcholine, and phosphorylserine were grafted on to hydroxylated polystyrene. The synthesis and characterization of these DNA‐like and phospholipid‐like polystyrene resins are described here extensively.