The use of sodium tetraethylborate in the derivatization of octyltin compounds

Octyltin trichloride (OctSnCl₃) and dioctyltin dichloride (Oct₂SnCl₂) have been reacted with sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt₄) to yield the volatile tetraalkyltin derivatives OctSnEt₃ and Oct₂SnEt₂. Single and mixed solutions of the octyltin chlorides have been derivatized, separated and quantified using interfaced GC AA and GC MS methodology.     

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of mono- and dioctyltinchloride in aqueous solutions and biological samples

Summary A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of mono- and dioctyltinchloride (MOTC and DOTC). Quantitative extraction from aqueous solutions was obtained with diethyl ether at pH=2. Several derivatization methods were tested. Grignard butylation in closed systems was most efficient. In the selected ion monitoring mode, the detection limits were 5 ng/ml for MOTC and 50 ng/ml for DOTC with a mean coefficient of variation of approximately 15%. Calibrations from different matrices were performed, e.g. from water, hepatocyte suspensions, urine and feces. The water solubility of DOTC was determined as 0.7 mg/l.