Efficient Separation of C-Tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene Conformers by Means of Reversed-Phase Solid-Phase Extraction.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed to study the conformer formation generated during the reaction for obtaining -tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene. The chromatographic method was used to design a strategy for purifying the reaction products, using solid-phase extraction columns (RP-SPE) and gradient elution. The chromatographic profiles of the cyclocondensation reaction between resorcinol and acetaldehyde show the presence of three products under the different reaction and precipitation conditions studied. Using RP-SPE, it was possible to enrich the products, which were later characterized by means of RP-HPLC and H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This investigation explored and established a new method for RP-HPLC analysis and RP-SPE separation of conformational isomers obtained in the formation reaction of -tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene.