GC-SIM MS PROFILING OF URINARY STEROIDS AS THEIR PER-TRIMETHYLSILYL DERIVATIVES/

Complete GC-SIM/MS separation and identification of 19 steroids (inclu ding several steroid isomers) in a male urine sample, as their per-tri methylsilyl ethers, is described, Trimethylsilylation of their functio nal groups (hydroxyl and carbonyl) was achieved by a rapid, simplified and one-step derivatization method, using -methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-2, 2,2,-trifluoroacetamide as the silylating agent and the solvent as wel l, along with catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl iodide and dithioery thritol, Furthermore, a GC/MS method for the analysis of a synthetic m ixture of underivatized urinary steroids is proposed. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.