Scientific Publications by FDA Staff

Biol Mass Spectrom 1981 Aug;8(8):327-31

Derivatization of beta-propiolactone in biological mixtures for enhanced gas chromatographic mass spectrometric determinations

Phillips LR, Fraser BA

Detection and identification of low levels (¿200 ppb) of free ß-propiolactone in complex biological mixtures were achieved through in situ chemical derivatization and subsequent gas chromatographic mass spectrometric determination of the products. ß-Propiolactone, when reacted with octadecylamine, followed by trimethylsilylation, yielded a derivative which exhibited both good gas chromatographic characteristics and highly interpretable mass spectrometric data.