Automated normal-phase preparative high-performance liquid chromatography as a substitute for flash chromatography in the synthetic research laboratory

An automated normal-phase preparative HPLC system was developed in order to omit time-consuming flash column chromatography in the synthetic research laboratory. The system is equipped with steel columns packed with spherical 12 mum silica and is able to separate samples in a range of 0.1-10 g depen ding on the column diameter and chromatographic problem. It was designed to be used as an open access instrument in the research department. The gener al users select from binary gradient programs after running an analytical T LC with the raw product. The HPLC instrument was fully controlled by the Ch romeleon software from Dionex. A Gilson 215 robot served as injector/collec tor. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.