Amino acid profiling using HRGC-FTIR oftert.-Butyldimethylsilyl derivatives

Summary The use of N, O (S)-tert.-Butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of amino acids for capillary gas chromatography and FTIR identification of amino acids is described. Rapid identification is achieved by computerised comparison of FTIR spectra. Derivatives that are characterised by identical sets of ions in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry experiments are clearly distinguished and identified by means of their infrared spectra. This, for example, is the case with alanine, -alanine and sarcosine, which norvaline and valine, and with norleucine, leucine and isoleucine. Unknows are also promptly detected. This is especially useful in screening biological samples for less common amino acids. Screening of hemoglogin hydrolysates for amino acid adducts is exemplified.Presented at the 17th International Symposium on Chromatography, September 25–30, 1988, Vienna, Austria.