Abstract
The elution
R
f
of 33 gibberellins (GAs) and abscisic acid from a gradient eluted (increasing amounts of ethyl acetate in hexane) silica gel partition column are given. Certain problems encountered with the use of silica gels for partition chromatography are discussed. An ordering of elution
R
f
is apparent from most of the GAs on the basis of the number and positioning of polar groups in the
ent-gibberellane structure. Hydroxylation in rings
C and
D retards elution to a greater degree than hydroxylation in ring
A. The elution of dicarboxylic GAs is not retarded to a significantly greater degree than monocarboxylic GAs, but the elution of tricarboxylic GAs is greatly regarded. Possession of an aldehydic/lactol grouping for a GA retards its elution to a greater degree than its γ-lactone counterpart.