Capillary electrophoretic application of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids.

Ionic substances with melting points at or close to room temperature are referred to as ionic liquids. Interest in ionic liquids for their potential in different chemical processes is increasing, because they are environmentally benign and are good solvents for a wide range of both organic and inorganic materials. In this study, a capillary electrophoretic method for resolving phenolic compounds found in grape seed extracts is reported. The method, in which 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids are used as the running electrolytes, is simple and reproducible. The separation mechanism seems to involve association between the imidazolium cations and the polyphenols. The role of the alkyl substituents on the imidazolium cations was investigated and will be discussed.