Evaluation of quantitative thin layer chromatography using staining reagents

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) using staining reagents is a superior method for analyzing organic compounds without chromophores. It is fast, versatile and sometimes the only viable method. We have investigated quantitative TLC using staining reagents, in combination with modern image analysis software. Our results show that it is possible to get reliable measurements, suitable for high-throughput screening or physical organic investigations. The range of detection and the errors for the different parts of the process are illustrated. We show that the errors are largely due to the staining process and can be diminished by measuring ratios of compounds.