Open-Tubular Column Supercritical Fluid Chromatography: Analysis of Thermolabile Intermediates Useful in Natural Product Synthesis

Abstract

Open-tubular column supercritical fluid chromatography with carbon dioxide as a mobile phase and flame-ionization detection are used for analyzing reactive and thermolabile compounds. Sixty-three substances (mainly sulfonic esters); divided into six groups that are useful intermediates in several synthetic routes starting from or leading to natural products, are examined. By comparing the results obtained by both capillary gas chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography, the latter is shown to be the method of choice for these compounds.