We
report hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) isotope effects based on weak
intermolecular interactions with polar functional groups and aromatic
rings in liquid chromatography (LC). Various LC experiments with different
aromatic analytes, separation media, and nonpolar mobile phases were
conducted under normal phase LC conditions, where the hydrophobic
interaction was completely suppressed. The separation media that had
polar functional groups, such as silanol groups, allowed for higher
separation efficiencies for the pairs of aromatic H/D isotopologues.
In comparing the 13C NMR spectra of protiated and deuterated
aromatic analytes, the electron density of the deuterated analyte
was found to be slightly higher than that of the protiated analytes.
In the case of silanol functional groups, aromatic rings of the analyte
acted as donors through the OH−π interaction to hydrogen
atoms in the silanol groups. Thus, the deuterated analytes were able
to be greatly retained by the stronger OH-π interactions. Furthermore,
a C70-fullerene bonded monolithic column (C70 column),
which effectively provides CH−π interactions, allowed
the opposite isotope effect. Briefly, an electrostatic attraction
based on the dipole-(induced) dipole interaction dominated in the
CH−π interactions, according to a van’t Hoff analysis.
Hence, the bonding lengths of the C–H or D bonds were sensitively
affected, such that we were able to conclude that the CH−π
interaction depended on the geometric effect. Applying these opposing
H/D isotope effects, we were able to finally demonstrate effective
H/D isotopologue separations by utilizing the complementary action
of the OH−π and CH-π interactions.