Monolithic columns have been successfully used as chromatographic stationary phases; however, their preparation including column vinylization and monolith syntheses are often time-consuming-- 3 to 24 h for column vinylization and 15 to 24 h for monolith synthesis using thermal heating. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are considered promising green solvents due to their high thermal and chemical stability, liquids at ambient temperature, and negligible vapor pressure. Similarly, using microwave heating for chemical synthesis have the advantages of reduced reaction time and side reactions, and increase yield and reproducibility. Here, we present a very efficient method of polymer-based monolith preparation in several imidazolium-based ILs with varying cation alkyl chain length and anion type as reaction media in the microwave polymerization of methacrylate-based stationary phases. The combination of ILs and microwave heating made polymeric monolith synthesis very efficient (~10 min), entirely green (organic solvent-free) and energy saving process.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of organic polymer monoliths in ionic liquid media for chromatographic application

245th National Meeting (2013)

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