Rapid preparation and characterization of a bridged bis(β-cyclodextrin) functionalized urea–formaldehyde monolithic column by a “one-pot” approach

In this study, a new bridged bis(β-cyclodextrin) (CD) functionalized urea–formaldehyde monolithic column was prepared by “one-pot” method within 30 minutes. The structures of bridged-CD and the obtained monolithic column were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The chromatographic performance of native-CD-monolith, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA)-bridged-CD-monolith and N,N′-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene) bisacrylamide (DAA)-bridged-CD-monolith was systematically evaluated by separating five analytes. As a result, all tested analytes were separated on an MBA-bridged-CD-monolith and DAA-bridged-CD-monolith with high resolutions (1.21–6.80), which showed that the bridged-CD-monolith exhibited a better chromatographic performance with enantioselectivity due to providing mixed-modes such as hydrophilicity, hydrogen bonding, ionic dipole and synergy compared with those of the native-CD-monolith. In addition, the enantioselectivity of the bridged-CD-monolith was related to the polarity of a functional linker. As a new chiral separation material, the bridged-CD functionalized urea–formaldehyde monolithic column may be widely applied in the analysis of chiral compounds due to its rapid preparation and higher enantioseparation performance.