I'd like to analyze cardiac glycosides by TLC. These compounds show blue to yellowish fluorescence at 365 nm, but all the published papers do use Silica G60 F254 TLC plates. Is it possible to see that fluorescence by using Silica G60 TLC plates without the F254 indicator?
Thanks in advance!
Yes, that is possible, there is no disadvantage in using the plates without F254 indicator.
If your compounds fluoresce, you can see the compounds without the F254 indicator.
The F254 indicator is useful for visualizing compounds that absorb UV light near 254 nm. The compound absorbs the light, preventing it from reaching the indicator. So the plate fluoresces everywhere except where there are absorbing compounds. The indicator has little to no effect on the chromatography.
Pascual,
Both answers are correct. I use TLC plates both with and without the F254 indicator.
Additionally, you might wish to consult Wagner, H. & Bladt, S. (1996). Plant drug analysis - a thin layer chromatography atlas (2nd ed.). Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag. Chapter 4 deals specifically with cardiac glycosides. It includes a great deal of useful information regarding mobile phases and also visualising agents if you don't necessarily want to isolate these compounds.
Regards and best wishes for a good outcome.
Philip.
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