4-t-Butylbenzylation of carboxylic acid for GC–MS analysis

Abstract

Abstract We report a 4-t-butylbenzyl derivatization for the analysis of carboxylic acids by GC–MS (EI). Carboxylic acids were analyzed as a 4-t-butylbenzyl ester after the derivatization with 4-t-butylbenzyl bromide. On the mass spectra of 4-t-butylbenzyl ester, [M-15]+ ions were observed with high intensity. These ions were tertiary benzyl cations generated by the elimination of a methyl radical from molecular ions. After optimization of the 4-t-butylbenzyl derivatization conditions using microwave reactor, we established a method for the determination of the carboxylic acids in water samples. The method showed good sensitivity and good reproducibility, and was successfully applied to the analysis of rain water samples.

Keywords

• Carboxylic acid
• Derivatization
• 4-t-butylbenzylation
• GC–MS analysis
• Determination