Wide Polarity Range Flash Purifications

In most reactions, synthesized compounds exhibit polarity and solubility properties similar enough to allow purification using a single pair of solvents during the purification step. On the other hand, Pharmacognosy applications, often involve compounds of interest that span a large polarity range. By adroit use of gradients and solvents, purifications can be run that span the polarity range from hexane through water in a single run for a normal phase column, while reversed phase columns can be run that span the range from water through methylene chloride in a single run. The ability to automatically change solvents and gradients during a single flash purification run saves time and can extend column life. Solid load cartridges avoid solubility issues since compounds are released from the cartridge at the appropriate time in the purification. Examples using silica, normal phase diol and reverse phase C18 columns are presented to illustrate the advantage of wide polarity Flash Chromatography.