RAPID DERIVATIZATION AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF AMINO-ACIDS

Reaction conditions for the derivatization of amino acids with chloroformates were established. In an aqueous reaction medium the reagents are able to esterify not only the side-chain reactive groups but even the carboxylic group. Suitable derivatives for the determination of amino acids by capillary gas chromatography were found to be the N(O,S)-ethoxycarbonyl ethyl esters, which are formed in a few seconds. Six stationary phases were tested with a mixture of derivatized protein amino acids. A moderately polar stationary phase of the OV-1701 type permits the determination of amino acids with good resolution in less than 5 min.