GC reagents

For improved volatility, better thermal stability or low limit of detection in gas chromatography prerequisite: quantitative, rapid and reproducible formation of only on derivative halogen atoms introduced by derivatisation (e.g. trifluoroacetates) allow specific detection (ECD) with the advantage of high sensitivity elution order and fragmentation patterns in MS can be influenced by a specific derivatisation.
Reagents for silylation - alkylation (methylation) - acylation are available.
Which is the proper reagent for silylation?
Test kit for determination of the optimum silylation.

For improved volatility, better thermal stability or low limit of detection in gas chromatography prerequisite: quantitative, rapid and reproducible formation of only on derivative halogen atoms introduced by derivatisation (e.g. trifluoroacetates) allow specific detection (ECD) with the advantage of high sensitivity elution order and fragmentation patterns in MS can be influenced by a specific derivatisation.
Reagents for silylation - alkylation (methylation) - acylation are available.
N,O-bis-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide
m.w. 257.4, Bp 40°C (12mm Hg), density d20°/4° = 0.961
BSTFA: R = CF₃ powerful trimethylsilyl donor with approximately the same donor strength as the non-fluorinated analogue BSA
advantage of BSTFA over BSA: greater volatility of its reaction products (particularly useful for GC of some lower boiling TMS amino acids.

BSTFA is nonpolar (less polar than MSTFA), and can be mixed with acetonitrile for improved solubility. For silylating fatty acid amides, hindered hydroxyls and other compounds, which are difficult to silylate (like secondary alcohols and amines), we recommend BSTFA + 1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS), available under the designation SILYL-991.

For improved volatility, better thermal stability or low limit of detection in gas chromatography prerequisite: quantitative, rapid and reproducible formation of only on derivative halogen atoms introduced by derivatisation (e.g. trifluoroacetates) allow specific detection (ECD) with the advantage of high sensitivity elution order and fragmentation patterns in MS can be influenced by a specific derivatisation.
Reagents for silylation - alkylation (methylation) - acylation are available.
N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide
m.w. 199.1, Bp 70 °C (75 mm Hg), density d20°/4° = 1.11
MSTFA: R" = CF₃, R" = CH₃
The most volatile trimethylsilyl amide available.
Very strong TMS donor which does not cause any noticeable fouling of the FID burning chamber even after long-time measuring series.
The already good solution characteristics can be improved by addition of submolar quantities of protic solvents (e.g. TFA for extremely polar compounds such as hydrochlorides) or pyridine (e.g. for carbohydrates).

Powder reagents in individually sealed packages.