• General considerations
• Common Derivatizations
• Derivatization Reagents
• Basic Procedures
• Troubleshooting
• Download

Common derivatizations

Compounds containing functional groups with active hydrogens (-COOH, -OH, -NH and -SH) are usually derivatized prior to analysis by gas chromatography
These functional groups have a tendency to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds that affect the volatility, their tendency to interact deleteriously with column packing materials and their thermal stability

Silylation, acylation and alkylation are derivatization techniques used to alter these functional groups to improve their thermal and chromatographic character.
Additionnally, some specific derivatizations are useful (chiral, neonatal screening, …)

The ideal derivatization procedure will:

• Accomplish the desired modification
• Proceed quantitatively, or at least reproducibly
• Produce products that are readily distinguishable and separable from the starting materials
• Proceed rapidly with simple and straight-forward laboratory techniques that will be both selective and applicable to a number of similar compounds
• Involve reagents and reactions that present no unusual hazards

Download "Derivatization Reagents for GC and Procedures Guide" for additional information.