Polymer-based monolithic column with incorporated chiral metal-organic framework for enantioseparation of methyl phenyl sulfoxide using nano-liquid chromatography.

A new approach to the preparation of enantioselective porous polymer monolithic columns with incorporated chiral metal-organic framework for nano-liquid chromatography has been developed. While no enantioseparation was achieved with monolithic poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) column, excellent separations of both enantiomers of (±)-methyl phenyl sulfoxide were achieved with its counterpart prepared after admixing metal-organic framework [Zn2 (benzene dicarboxylate)(l-lactic acid)(dmf)], which is synthesized from zinc nitrate, l-lactic acid, and benzene dicarboxylic acid in the polymerization mixture. These novel monolithic columns combined selectivity of the chiral framework with the excellent hydrodynamic properties of polymer monoliths, may provide a great impact on future studies in the field of chiral analysis by liquid chromatography.