Coatings of one monomer molecularly imprinted polymers for open tubular capillary electrochromatography

One monomer molecularly imprinted polymer coatings were first synthesized in fused silica capillary columns with 2-methacrylamidopropyl methacrylate (MAM) as single functional monomer in addition to a cross-linking monomer. Since MAM may generate no or little EOF, a strategy of precursor of polymerization, which does not interfere with the formation of defined imprints, was used to introduce an ionizable functional monomer to generate a stable electroosmotic flow for electrochromatography (CEC) by post-polymerization hydrolization. The resulting MAM-based open-tubular imprinted capillary was able to separate enantiomers by means of CEC. The resolution of enantiomers separation achieved on S-amlodipine-imprinted capillary was up to 16.1. The strong recognition ability (selectivity factor was 3.23) and high column performance (theory plates was 26,053 plates m−1) of template were obtained. The MIP coatings were also prepared using either S-naproxen or S-ketoprofen as template molecule. The resolutions of enantiomers separation were 2.20 and 4.56, respectively. The results illustrate that the synthesis of MIP using one monomer is not only an experimental-simplified process, but also an approach to producing chiral stationary phase with high efficiency and selectivity.