DERIVATIZATION WITH ACETIC-ANHYDRIDE - APPLICATIONS TO THE ANALYSIS OF BIOGENIC-AMINES AND PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY AND MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Acetylation with acetic anhydride, under both aqueous and anhydrous co nditions, has been utilized to derivatize various biogenic amines and psychotropic drugs for subsequent analysis by gas chromatography (GC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Under basic aqueous c onditions, acetic anhydride derivatizes phenols and amines but not alc ohols; under anhydrous conditions, all three functions are acetylated. Primary amines, once derivatized with acetic anhydride, can be furthe r derivatized with other reagents; these diderivatives have proven use ful for subsequent analysis by GC or GC-MS. Examples of applications o f derivatization with acetic anhydride to analysis of biogenic amines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and some of their metabolites are pr esented.