Derivatisation reagents for GC
Purpose of derivatisation
	improved volatility, better thermal stability or a lower limit of detection in GC
	prerequisite: quantitative, rapid and reproducible formation of only one derivative
	halogen atoms introduced by derivatisation (e. g. trifluoroacetates) allow specific detection (ECD) with the advantage of high sensitivity
	elution orders and fragmentation patterns in MS can be influenced by a specific derivatisation

reagents for silylation · alkylation (methylation) · acylation are available

Derivatisation method development kits

	Designation / purpose	Contents of the kit	Cat. No
	Derivatisation method development kit
	which type of derivatisation is best suited for your sample (alkylation, acylation or silylation)?	2 x 1 ml each of TMSH, MSTFA, MBTFA	701952
	Acylation kit
	which is the proper reagent for acylation?	2 x 1 ml each of MBTFA, TFAA, MBHFBA	701950
	Alkylation kit
	which is the proper reagent for methylation?	3 x 1 ml each of TMSH, DMF-DMA	701951
	Silylation kit
	which is the proper reagent for silylation?	2 x 1 ml each of MSTFA, BSTFA, TSIM, MSHFBA	701953

Selection guide for derivatisation of important functional groups in GC

Function		method	derivative	recommended reagents
Alcohols, Phenols R'OH		silylation	R'O - TMS	BSA, MSTFA, MSHFBA, TSIM, SILYL‑2110, SILYL-21, SILYL-1139
		acylation	R'O - CO - R	TFAA, HFBA, MBTFA, MBHFBA
		alkylation	R'O - R	TMSH
	sterically hindered	silylation	R'O - TMS	TSIM, BSTFA, SILYL-991
Amines primary, secondary		silylation	R' - NR" - TMS	BSA, MSTFA, MSHFBA, SILYL-991
		acylation	R' - NR" - CO - R	TFAA, HFBA, MBTFA, MBHFBA
	hydrochlorides	silylation	R' - NR" - TMS	MSTFA
Amides		silylation	not stable
		acylation	R' - CO - NH - CO - R	TFAA, MBTFA, HFBA, MBHFBA
Amino acids		silylation	R' – CH(NH – TMS) – CO – O – TMS	BSA, BSTFA, MSTFA, MSHFBA
		alkylation (a) + acylation (b)	R' – CH(NH - CO-R) – CO – O – R	a) MeOH/TMCS, TMSH b) TFAA, HFBA, MBTFA, MBHFBA
Carboxylic acids (fatty acids)		silylation	R’ – CO – O – TMS susceptible to hydrolysis	BSA, MSTFA, MSHFBA, TMCS, TSIM, SILYL-2110, SILYL-21, SILYL-1139
		alkylation	R’ – CO – O – R	DMF-DMA, MeOH/TMCS (1 M), TMSH
	salts	silylation	R’ – CO – O – TMS susceptible to hydrolysis	TMCS
Carbohydrates		silylation		MSTFA, TSIM, HMDS, SILYL-1139
		acylation		TFAA, MBTFA
Steroids		silylation		BSA, TSIM
		acylation		TFAA, MBTFA, HFBA, MBHFBA