CHEMICALLY REMOVABLE DERIVATIZATION REAGENT FOR LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY- 2-(2-NAPHTHOXY)ETHYL 2-[1-(4-BENZYL)PIPERAZYL]ETHANESULFONATE

A new sulfonate reagent, 2-(2-naphthoxy)ethyl 2-[1-(4-benzyl)-piperazy l]ethanesulfonate, was synthesized for analytical derivatization in li quid chromatography. The reagent consists of two main moieties, i.e., one with a fluorophore (naphthoxy) for sensitive detection after being tagged to an analyte; and the other with a tertiary amino function (a substituted piperazine) that can be removed after derivatization by a cid treatment. The reagent was applied to the derivatization of caproi c acid as a model analyte. The resulting derivative was analyzed by hi gh-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. The linear range of the method for the determination of caproic acid was o ver 0.01-0.5 nmol, with a detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio=3) of about 0.1 pmol. The excess reagent was readily removed from organic s olvent after treatment with an aqueous acid solution.