Chromatographic material and methods for the synthesis thereof
A particulate material for chromatographic use comprising silica particles is provided having a skeleton structure containing silsesquioxane cage moieties. The material is useful as a chromatographic material, for example in HPLC. The silica particles may be hybrid organo-silica particles wherein the silsesquioxane moieties comprise a cage structure having silicon atoms positioned at corners of the cage wherein one or more silicon atoms positioned at the corners of the cagecarry an organic group. A preferred method of preparing the particulate material comprises hydrolysing a silsesquioxane as a co-component of a hydrolysis mixture, especially ina Stober or modified Stober process.