CHARACTERIZATION OF IMPORTANT INTERACTIONS CONTROLLING RETENTION BEHAVIOR OF ANALYTES IN REVERSED-PHASE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Interactions between an analyte and the surface of the stationary phas e are discussed with relation to the physico-chemical properties of bo th analyte and the surface resin. Hydrophobic and electrostatic intera ctions give important contributions to retention behaviour. pi-pi inte ractions, hydrogen bond formation, dipole-dipole interactions and ster ic interactions (shape-fit) appear to be of major importance when clos ely related compounds are to be separated. A chemometrics approach giv es insight into combinations of these analyte-stationary phase interac tions that determine the retention behaviour in liquid chromatography. In this way, it is possible to give a more accurate estimation of whi ch interactions dominate the retention behaviour. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V.