Relationship between chromatographic retention and donor and acceptor numbers

The prediction of chromatographic retention times for a wide range of chemical compounds has been a subject of interest and intense study during the past few decades. Several of these studies are discussed, in particular those which utilize empirical parameters of solvent polarity in a correlation to chromatographic retention. Several of these empirical scales of solvent polarity are discussed in detail. The compilation of accurate acceptor and donor numbers is thoroughly discussed. Correlation of some of these empirical parameters to the solvent\u27s normal phase liquid chromatographic retention was attempted. The multiple variable correlation equation which resulted in the best correlation utilized the solvent analyte\u27s acceptor number, donor number, and pi* value. The gas chromatographic retention behavior of a wide range of solvent classes was also correlated to solvent property data. The highest correlation of this retention data was achieved using a multiple variable correlation equation involving the solvent\u27s boiling point, donor number, and pi* value. In addition to these most successful attempts several other correlation equations are discussed