Recently I've done the synthesis of a water-soluble ruthenium complex with 1H-imidazole. I could separate the desired complex from other complexes formed during the synthesis by chromatography(silica gel), but I haven't been successful in the separation of the complex and the 1H-imidazole ligand. I already tried chromatography and washing with some organic solvents (the problem is that all that imidazole is soluble my complex is soluble as well). Does someone have any suggestions for this problem?
To separate your water-soluble ruthenium complex from 1H-imidazole, consider trying size exclusion chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, or reversed-phase HPLC. Additionally, explore precipitation, pH adjustment, and different stationary phases. Small-scale trials and analytical techniques can aid optimization.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try all of them, except pH adjustment because the complex structure is very sensible to pH change (specially after pH 8)
Separating a ruthenium complex from its ligand, especially when they have similar solubilities, can be challenging. Here are a few strategies you can try:
Column Chromatography Optimization:
Experiment with different column chromatography conditions, such as changing the stationary phase, using a different elution solvent system, or adjusting the polarity of the solvent.
Solvent Gradient Elution:Employ a gradient elution strategy during column chromatography. This involves starting with a more polar solvent and gradually increasing the polarity, which may help in better separating the ruthenium complex from the 1H-imidazole.
Reversed-Phase Chromatography:Consider using reversed-phase chromatography, especially if your complex is hydrophilic. This technique can exploit differences in hydrophobicity for separation.Size-Exclusion Chromatography:
Size-exclusion chromatography separates molecules based on size. If your ruthenium complex and 1H-imidazole have significant differences in size, this method might be effective.
Recrystallization:Attempt recrystallization using a suitable solvent system. Sometimes, complexes can be encouraged to crystallize separately from their ligands.Selective Precipitation:
Investigate the possibility of selective precipitation by adding a non-solvent or changing the solvent conditions to encourage the separation of the ruthenium complex from 1H-imidazole.
Extraction:Explore liquid-liquid extraction using an immiscible solvent that selectively extracts one component. This method might require optimization of conditions.
pH Adjustment:Evaluate the impact of pH on the solubility of the complex and the ligand. Adjusting the pH may alter the solubility of one of the components, aiding in separation.
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