Generation of ion exchanger media

1. A method of generating a separation medium including mixed mode cation-exchanger ligands coupled to a base matrix, which method comprises the steps of

(a) providing at least one scaffold, said scaffold including a functional group (F) and having a cyclic core structure;

(b) derivatizing each of the scaffold(s) with a reagent, which includes a reactive group (Z) coupled to a residue (R), by reacting the functional group of said scaffold with the reactive group of said reagent, while retaining the cyclic core structure of the scaffold;

(c) opening up of the cyclic structure of the resulting derivative; and

(d) reacting the opened product so obtained with a base matrix including a reactive group;

wherein said scaffold presents at least two functionalities, one of which is a sulphur-comprising group for coupling to the reactive group of the base matrix and one of which is a group that can be transformed into an ionic group, said functionalities being present on the cyclic structure in adjacent positions, and wherein in step (c), opening up is provided by breaking the bond between two functionalities.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold has the structure

wherein A, B and X are independently carbon atoms or any heteroatoms, m is any integer between 0 and 4, and the functional group (F) is either coupled to any one of A, B and X.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein in formula (I), the functional group (F) is selected from the group consisting of leaving groups C—Y, wherein Y is Br, Cl, I, mesylate, or a tosylate; acids; and activated acids.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein in formula (I), A, B, and X are carbon atoms, m is 1 and F is —NH 2 .

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the scaffold is homocysteine thiolactone:

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the derivatization agent used in step (b) is of the formula

-Z-R—  (II)

wherein

Z is a group which is capable of reacting with the functional group (F) of the scaffold; and

R is a linear, branched, cyclic saturated, unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbon group.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of brominating, separately and before step (b), the reactive group of the base matrix, wherein said reactive group is a carbon-carbon double bond.

8. A method of generating a separation medium comprising mixed mode cation-exchanger ligands coupled to a base matrix, comprising

(a) providing at least one scaffold derivative having a cyclic structure;

(b) opening up of the cyclic structure of the derivative; and

(c) reacting the opened product so obtained with a base matrix including a reactive group;

wherein said scaffold derivative is of formula (III)

wherein A, B and X are independently carbon atoms or any heteroatoms, and m is any integer between 0 and 4, and further wherein said functionalities are on the cyclic structure in adjacent positions, and wherein in step (c), opening up is provided by breaking the bond between said two adjacent positions, and wherein a F-Z-R is coupled to any one of A, B and X and wherein F is a functional group, Z is reactive group, and R is residue.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein R is a linear, branched, cyclic, saturated, unsaturated or aromatic hydrocarbon group.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the scaffold derivative is a homocysteine thiolactone derivative.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of activating, separately and before step (b), the reactive group of the base matrix under conditions favouring radical reaction, wherein said reactive group is a carbon-carbon double bond.