Characterization of Ascentis RP-Amide column: Lipophilicity measurement and linear solvation energy relationships

This study investigates lipophilicity determination by chromatographic measurements using the polar embedded Ascentis RP-Amide stationary phase. As a new generation of amide-functionalized silica stationary phase, the Ascentis RP-Amide column is evaluated as a possible substitution to the n-octanol/water partitioning system for lipophilicity measurements. For this evaluation, extrapolated retention factors, log   k ′ w , of a set of diverse compounds were determined using different methanol contents in the mobile phase. The use of n-octanol enriched mobile phase enhances the relationship between the slope (S) of the extrapolation lines and the extrapolated log   k ′ w (the intercept of the extrapolation), as well as the correlation between log P values and the extrapolated log   k ′ w (1:1 correlation, r2 = 0.966). In addition, the use of isocratic retention factors, at 40% methanol in the mobile phase, provides a rapid tool for lipophilicity determination. The intermolecular interactions that contribute to the retention process in the Ascentis RP-Amide phase are characterized using the solvation parameter model of Abraham. The LSER system constants for the column are very similar to the LSER constants of the n-octanol/water extraction system. Tanaka radar plots are used for quick visual comparison of the system constants of the Ascentis RP-Amide column and the n-octanol/water extraction system. The results all indicate that the Ascentis RP-Amide stationary phase can provide reliable lipophilic data.