Thiol-Epoxy Click Polymerization for Preparation of Polymeric Monoliths with Well-Defined 3D Framework for Capillary Liquid Chromatography

A facile approach was developed for,direct preparation of organic monoliths via the alkaline-catalyzed thiol-epoxy click polymerization: Two organic monoliths were prepared by using tetraphenylolethane glycidyl ether as a multiepoxy monomer, and trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) as the multithiol monomer, respectively, in the presence of a tertiary porogenic system (DMSO/PEG200/H2O). The obtained organic monoliths showed high thermal; mechanical and chemical stabilites. Benefiting from the step-growth polymerization process, two organic monoliths possessed well-defined 3D framework microstructure, and exhibited high permeabilities and column efficiencies in capillary liquid chromatography. A series of neutral, basic and acidic small molecules were used to comprehensively evaluate the separation abilities of these monoliths; and satisfactory chromatographic performance with column efficiencies ranged from 35 500 to 132 200 N/m Was achieved, demonstrating good separation abilities of these organic Monoliths prepared via thiol-epoxy click polymerization approach, Besides, multiple retention mechanisms, including hydrophobic, hydrophilic and pi-pi conjugate interations were observed,,during the separation of analytes on these monoliths, which Would make them promising for more extensive applications in capillary liquid chromatography.