Characterization of in situ generated ionene micellar mimetic stationary phases for liquid chromatography

Micellar mimetic ionenes are linear cationic polyelectrolytic molecules hav ing dimethylammonium charge centers interconnected by alternating alkyl cha in segments containing x and y number of methylene groups where x is equal to 3 and y is greater than 14. These ionenes form intramolecular aggregates with behavior that mimics traditional surfactant micelle properties. In th is paper we report the use of [3,16]-ionene to prepare an in situ generated stationary phase on aminopropylated silica for liquid chromatography. This phase was found to exhibit chromatographic characteristics different from those of conventional amino, C-18 or phenyl stationary phases. This ionene column has facilitated the separation of some cis-, trans-, and ortho-, met a-, para-isomeric components, planar and nonplanar aromatic hydrocarbons as well as alpha - beta ring attachment compounds.