BSTFA CAS 25561 30 2 bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoro acetamide

Introduction to BSTFA (N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide)

BSTFA (N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide) is a widely used silylating agent in analytical chemistry, particularly in gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). It is a derivative of trifluoroacetamide with two trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups attached to the nitrogen and oxygen atoms.

Key Features of BSTFA:

1. Derivatization Agent:

   • BSTFA is primarily used to convert polar, non-volatile compounds (e.g., alcohols, carboxylic acids, amines, and phenols) into their more volatile trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives, making them suitable for GC-MS analysis.

   • It reacts with active hydrogens (–OH, –NH, –SH, –COOH) to replace them with TMS groups, improving thermal stability and volatility.

2. Structure and Reactivity:

   • Chemical Formula: C₈H₁₈F₃NOSi₂

   • Reacts rapidly with many functional groups, often with the aid of a catalyst like TMCS (trimethylchlorosilane).

3. Advantages:

   • Enhances detection sensitivity in GC-MS by reducing peak tailing.

   • Works well for a broad range of compounds, including steriods, drugs, and metabolites.

   • Often used in metabolomics, environmental analysis, and pharmaceutical testing.

4. Common Applications:

   • Metabolite profiling (e.g., urine, blood).

   • Drug testing (derivatization of amphetamines, cannabinoids).

   • Environmental analysis (pesticides, phenols).

Limitations & Considerations:

• Moisture-sensitive: Must be stored under anhydrous conditions.

• Byproducts: Can form trifluoroacetamide (TFA) as a byproduct, which may interfere in some analyses.

Conclusion

BSTFA is a powerful derivatization reagent that improves the analysis of polar compounds in GC-MS, making it indispensable in many analytical laboratories.