A process for separating organic compounds from a mixture by reverse-phase displacement chromatography, including providing a hydrophobic stationary phase applying to the hydrophobic stationary phase a mixture comprising organic compounds to be separated displacing the organic compounds from the hydrophobic stationary phase by applying thereto an aqueous composition comprising a non-surface active hydrophobic neutral zwitterionic displacer molecule and optionally an organic solvent and collecting a plurality of fractions eluted from the hydrophobic stationary phase containing the separated organic compounds in which the non-surface active hydrophobic neutral zwitterionic displacer molecule comprises a hydrophobic zwitterion having the general formula, as defined in the disclosure: [CM-R*—CM′].
