Ion-paired chromatographic separation of iron(II) complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline and its derivatives

Iron(II) chelate complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (DMPhen), 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (TMPhen) and 4,7-diphenyl(batho)-1,10-phenanthroline (DPPhen) were prepared and identified by means of absorption and infrared spectroscopy. The characteristic elution of these complexes on an Inertsil ODS column as well as their separation was investigated by ion-paired reversed phase chromatography. Some parameters influencing the separation such as composition of eluent, counter ion species and their concentrations were also studied. It was found that acetonitrile/water (80/20,v/v) containing 0.06 M HClO₄ gave the best separation for each complex.