DETERMINATION OF SULFONIC COMPOUNDS AS THEIR THIOTRIFLUOROACETATE DERIVATIVES BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ION-TRAP DETECTION

A reductive method for the derivatization of sulphonates is described that is rapid (completed in a few minutes at room temperature) and use s mild conditions. Aromatic and aliphatic sulphonates were converted i nto the corresponding thiotrifluoroacetate derivatives using the reduc tive system sodium iodide-dimethylformamide-trifluoacetic anhydride. 2 -Amino-5-naphthol-7-sulphonic acid (J acid) was also derivatized succe ssfully under the same conditions. All the derivatives were stable and could be separated easily by GC. The abundances of the molecular ion peaks were high on the ion trap detector and were convenient for ident ification.