SEPARATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF STEREOISOMERIC CYCLOBUTANEDIOLS BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A procedure is described for the separation and identification of cis- and trans-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol. The separation of the isomeric diols was achieved by gas chromatography on an HP-1 capil lary column under optimized conditions. The identification of the isom ers was carried out through the mass spectrometric analysis of silyl d erivatives prepared by using silylating agents of different steric dem ands. Striking reactivity differences of the isomers resulted in selec tive derivatization, permitting the unequivocal identification of the isomers. The results were supported by the analysis of authentic sampl es.