Fluoroponytailed ionic liquids as co-porogens for poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolithic supports for thin layer chromatography

Porous layered monolithic substrates of poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) were synthesized via UV initiated free radical polymerization in the presence of fluoroponytailed ionic liquids as co-porogenic constituents. The effects of the type and the amount of selected fluorous ionic liquids on various properties of the monolithic support, e.g. porosity, specific surface area and chromatographic performance, in particular for their usability in reversed phase TLC, were examined. Porosity was characterized by means of mercury porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The monolithic stationary phases with different layer thickness were successfully applied in the separation of three curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Relative retention factor, theoretical plates and resolution were used for the evaluation of the monolithic support's performance. To verify the feasibility of the monoliths, the method was employed for the discrimination between the plant species Curcuma longa and Curcuma xanthorrhiza.