Multicomponent Ugi reaction as a tool for fast and easy preparation of stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. Part I: The influence of attachment and spacing of the functional ligand obtained via the Ugi reaction

•Novel silica adsorbents (5 µm) obtained via Ugi reaction with a ligand attached directly or spaced from surface•Evaluation of performance by means of Tanaka HILIC test, sugars, amino acids, and vitamins separation•Direct ligand attachment providing hydrophilization, selectivity, and efficiency improvement•Ligand attachment via diglycidyl ether linker provides additional anion-exchange selectivity•Separation of 9 sugars or 7 amino acids or 7 vitamins in less than 18 min with up to 40,000 N/m