Solvent Systems for Thin Layer Chromatography

Good Starting Points

• Polar compounds: 100% EtOAc or 5% MeOH/dichloromethane
• Normal compounds: 10-50% EtOAc/Hexane
• Nonpolar compounds: 5% EtOAc/hexane, 5% ether/hexane, 100% hexane

Systems for very polar compounds

1. 10% NH ₄OH in MeOH solution as your polar solvent: try 1-10% of this mixture in dichloromethane.
2. EBAW: EtOAc/butanol/HOAc/H ₂O in a 80/10/5/5 ratio (note: this solvent system CANNOT be used for flash chromatography).