The separation and identification of normal aliphatic alcohols

Abstract

Abstract With the aid of 4‐dialkylamino‐3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl chloride primary normal aliphatic alcohols and normal methyl‐carbinols up to ca. C 14 are practically quantitatively converted into coloured esters, which can be separated by partition chromatography. Identification is possible by means of the retention volumes, while a quantitative determination can be made by measuring the UV absorption. The theory of partition chromatography is extended and it is shown that the logarithms of the true retention volumes for terms of a homologous series plotted against the number of C‐atoms must give a straight line, provided the behaviour of the solutions and chromatographic system is ideal. The slope of this line is determined exclusively by the partition system and the nature of the homologous series. The significance of this relationship for the identification of homologues is discussed.