System Maps for Retention of Small Neutral Compounds on a Superficially Porous Ethyl-Bridged, Octadecylsiloxane-Bonded Silica Stationary Phase in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

The system constants of the solvation parameter model are used to prepare system maps for the retention of small neutral compounds on an ethyl-bridged, ocatadecylsiloxane-bonded superficially porous silica stationary phase (Kinetex EVO C18) for aqueous mobile phases containing 10-70% (v/v) methanol or acetonitrile. Electrostatic interactions (cation-exchange) are important for the retention of weak bases with acetonitrile-water but not methanol-water mobile phase compositions. Compared with a superficially porous octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Kinetex C18) with a similar morphology but different topology statistically significant differences in selectivity at the 95% confidence level are observed for neutral compounds that vary by size and hydrogen-bond basicity with other intermolecular interactions roughly similar. These selectivity differences are dampened with acetonitrile-water mobile phases, but are significant for methanol-water mobile phase compositions containing < 30% (v/v) methanol. A comparison of a totally porous ethyl-bridged, octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (XBridge C18) with Kinetex EVO C18 indicated that they are effectively selectivity equivalent.