Studies in the relationship between molecular structure and chromatographic behaviour : Part VI. The behaviour of some alkyl etc. phenols chromatographed by reversed-phased thin-layer partition chromatography

Abstract The alkyl etc. phenols have been chromatographed under controlled conditions, by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography on cellulose impregnated with ethyl oleate as the stationary phase, and aqueous ethanol as the mobile phase. The results indicate that the mechanism of separation is essentially one of partition between the two phases, the phenols being removed from the stationary phase by solvation of the phenolic group by the polar mobile phase. Steric effects are considered to be of greater importance than electronic effects in influencing the degree of solvation of the phenolic group. The M artin additivity principle is considered to be approximately valid, subject to modifications as a result of the influence of chain branching, steric effects, and for polysubstituted phenols, positional effects.