Derivatization of amines with chloroformate esters for gas chromatographic analysis

Summary The gas chromatographic analysis of amines after conversion to electron capture sensitive carbamates in two-phase systems has been studied. Hydrophilic compounds, for instance methylamine, are reacted with 2,2,2-trichloro-tert. butyl chloroformate. Quantitation below 10^–7 M can be made by thermionic or electron capture detection. A hydrophobic amine, namely N,N-dimethyl-n-octylamine, was derivatized with 2,4,6-tribromophenyl chloroformate with addition of iodide ion to the aqueous phase. The favorable effect of iodide ion as well as the choice of pH and chloroformate ester is discussed.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982