title: An evaluation of systems for paper chromatography of C21 steroids.
abstract: A group of moderately polar C21 steroids (3-5 oxygen functions) has been chromatographed in 9 solvent systems. Using the concept that standard deviation of the mean RF is an index of chromatographic resolution, and that coefficients of correlation between sets of RF data can be used to quantify the similarities of chromatographic systems, we have evaluated the resolving properties of the systems when used individually, and also when used in combinations of two, three and four. The discriminating powers of some of the most effective individual systems, and some of the sequences of systems which are most efficient, are shown graphically as chromatography trees. The relationship between the total effective standard deviation of a group of systems which are used in sequence and the probability that a pair of compounds will be separated by more than 0.10 RF is discussed.
mesh_terms: D002854:Chromatography, Paper / Q000379:methods*; D011278:Pregnanes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011278:Pregnanes