Separation of Isomeric Insect Pheromonal Compounds Using Reversed-Phase HPLC with AgNO3 in the Mobile Phase

Abstract

Using reversed-phase HPLC and a polar mobile phase containing silver nitrate, rapid separations of geometrical isomers of mono-, di-, and polyunsaturated open chain olefins were achieved. These olefins represented various chain lengths of acetates, alcohols, aldehydes, and hydrocarbons. Separations of adjacent positional isomers of dodecenyl acetate were also attempted; the degree of success was dependent on double bond distance from the acetate group. Advantages of the mobile Ag⁺/reversed-phase technique over commonly used methods for geometrical isomer separation are discussed.