Straightforward process for the identification and isolation of natural products using thin-layer and preparative chromatography

Thin-Layer Chromatography as well as preparative chromatography on silica sorbents are workhorses in natural product identification and isolation. Nevertheless, the process development using both techniques in combination is often based on trial and error and not examined in a systematical way. Only a few publications deal with the selection of chromatographic conditions and process development [1]. We will present general rules for the development of straightforward process design, starting with the appropriate solvent selection, the transfer of separations from the TLC-plate to process chromatography columns and the further optimisation of loading and throughput on the preparative HPLC-system. The importance of using the same silica selectivities will be shown as well as the use of TLC experiments to identify highly absorptive and labile compounds, which would be creating problems in the preparative separations.

Keywords: Thin-Layer Chromatography, TLC, silica chromatography, process scale-up.

References:

[1] WeberP, Hamburger M, Schafroth N, Pottereat O, Flash chromatography on cartridges for the separation of plant extracts: Rules for the selection of chromatographic conditions and comparison with medium pressure liquid chromatography. Fitoterapia 2011; 82: 155 – 161