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Title: Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry investigation of the reversed-phase separation of fullerenes and their derivatives

Journal Article · · Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00065a012· OSTI ID:5717561
 [1];  [2]
  1. Dalhousie Univ., Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada)
  2. National Research Council, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada)

The separation of fullerenes and their derivatives on four commercially available reversed-phase columns was investigated using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. Three octadecylsilica stationary phases were incapable of adequately separating the fullerenes according to the number of carbons. However, baseline resolution of nearly all the fullerenes (up to at least C[sub 96]) was achieved with a 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethylsilica phase. The resolution of individual fullerene isomers, on the other hand, was best accomplished with a polymeric octadecylsilica bonded phase. A proposed mechanism for this unique ability combines the shape selectivity of polymeric phases, previously recognized for planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the different molecular footprints of the isomers. This retention mechanism can also be used to explain the increasingly lower retention times of successively substituted fullerenes; groups bonded to the fullerene surface appear to disrupt adsorptive interactions between the fullerene molecular footprints and the stationary phases. 44 refs., 8 figs.

OSTI ID:
5717561
Journal Information:
Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States), Vol. 65:17; ISSN 0003-2700
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English