Study of a novel cationic calix[4]arene used as selectivity modifier in capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

The use of a novel cationic calixarene, p-(quaternary ammonium) calix[4]arene, as selectivity modifier in capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemical detection was reported. The calixarene displayed good selectivity for the positional isomers of benzenediol and aminophenol and their successful separation was obtained under optimum conditions. The interaction mechanism between p-(quaternary ammonium) calix[4]arene and the solutes is discussed using the molecular modeling method. The detection limits by electrochemical detection for the most solutes studied here were below picogram level, which was ∼2 orders of magnitude lower than those reported in the literature using UV detection. The results showed that electrochemical detection is especially suitable for an electrophoresis system where calixarenes are used as modifier.