Tailored Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Derived Monolithic Media Prepared from Cyclooctene-Based Monomers and Cross-Linkers

The synthesis of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) derived monolithic media prepared from cis- cyclooctene (COE) as monomer, tris(cyclooct-4-ene-1-yloxy)methylsilane (CL) as cross-linker, toluene as microporogen, and 2-propanol as macroporogen is described. Monolithic supports with varying composition in terms of COE, CL, microporogen, and macroporogen were prepared using RuCl 2 (Py) 2 (1,3-Mes 2 -imidazolin-2-ylidene)(CHC 6 H 5 ) (Mes = 2,4,5-trimethylphenyl, Py = pyridine) and pyridine as modulator and characterized via inverse size exclusion chromatography (ISEC) and electron microscopy. Monoliths 3 × 100 mm in size were used for the separation of a mixture of five proteins, i.e., ribonuclease A, lysozyme, insulin, cytochrome c, and myoglobin. Semipreparative separation of these compounds was achieved within less than 150 s by applying gradient elution. Peak half-widths (ω 0.5 ) were <6 s, and resolution ( R s ) was >1.2 throughout. Functionalization of the novel support was accomplished in situ and exemplified by grafting various amounts of 7-oxanorborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride on the monolithic structure. By this approach, carboxylic acid loadings up to 86 μmol/g, corresponding to 0.71 wt %, were realized.