4-Chloro-6-pyrimidinylferrocene modified silica gel: A novel multiple-function stationary phase for mixed-mode chromatography

A novel multi-function and mixed-mode stationary phase based on 4-chloro-6-pyrimidinylferrocene modified silica (NFcS) was synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Linear solvation energy relationship method was successfully employed to evaluate the new phase with a set of 27 solutes including aromatic and aliphatic compounds. Multiple mechanisms including hydrophobic, π–π, hydrogen-bonding, charge-transfer, acid–base equilibrium and anion-exchange interactions are involved. Based on these interactions, successful separation could be achieved among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, mono-substituted benzenes, aromatic amines, phenols, quinolines, pyridines and nucleosides in reversed-phase (RP) or normal-phase (NP) chromatography. Inorganic anions were also shown to be individually separated in anion-exchange chromatography by using the same column. Moreover, the results here also demonstrated that NFcS based stationary phase could effectively reduce the adverse effect of residual silanol in the separation process. Such stationary phase with characteristics of multi-interaction mechanism and mixed-mode separation is potential for the analysis of complex samples. The NFcS column was successfully employed for the analysis of plant growth regulators in Fruit. [Display omitted] •A mixed-mode stationary phase modified by 4-chloro-6-pyrimidinylferrocene was prepared.•Study of the stationary phase via a linear solvation energy relationship model.•Aromatics, amines, phenols, quinolines, pyridines and nucleosides were employed as probes.•Separation of inorganic anions in anion-exchange mode.•The NFcS column was successfully employed for the analysis of plant growth regulators in Fruit.