Quantitative structure-retention relationship study of tetrazolium salts on alumina support

The retention of 7 monotetrazolium and 9 ditetrazolium salts was determined on alumina and reversed-phase (RP) alumina layers using n-hexane-2-propanol and water-2-propanol mixtures as eluents. The retention capacity and the specific surface area of solutes in contact with the stationary phases were calculated. Quantitative structure-retention relationship calculations indicated that the retention capacity of solutes on RP alumina layers depended not only on the molecular hydrophobicity but also on the hydrogen-donor and acceptor properties. Specific surface areas were related to the electronic and steric parameters of the solutes. Calculations suggested that the retention on both alumina and RP alumina layers is of mixed character, hydrophobic, electronic and steric parameters are equally involved in the retention. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.