STRONG NON-POLAR CATION EXCHANGERS FOR THE SEPARATION OF STEROIDS IN MIXED CHROMATOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS

The synthesis fo strong cation exchangers with variable polarity is described. The bromohydroxypropyl derivatives of Sephadex LH-20 or Lipidex 1000 are sulphonated with sodium sulphite in aqueous methanol. The polarity of the ion exchangers is decreased by reaction with alkyl olefin oxides in methylene chloride. The materials permit ion exchange in non-aqueous solvents, and the less polar derivatives form reversed-phase systems in aqueous methanol. They are useful in the purification of steroids prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, as they permit the simultaneous removal of organic bases and lipids from the biological extract. © 1979.