A novel co-pillar[4+1]arene incorporating two bromo-octyl substituents has been synthesised for the first time, using microwave irradiation in high yield (88%) in under four minutes, and bound to the surface of chromatographic silica particles. The resulting new stationary phase has been successfully utilised to separate xylene isomers via liquid chromatographic techniques.
![Graphical abstract: Silica bound co-pillar[4+1]arene as a novel supramolecular stationary phase](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C9CC09656F.jpg)