Chemistry
Derivatization in GC-MS: Making Non-Volatile Analytes Detectable
Quick fact
Derivatization can transform a non-volatile, polar analyte like a sugar or an amino acid into a volatile, thermally stable derivative, enabling its analysis by GC-MS. For example, replacing active hydrogens in hydroxyl or amino groups with silyl groups dramatically increases volatility and reduces peak tailing, allowing compounds that would otherwise decompose to be analyzed.
Why this is interesting
You've just synthesized a beautiful organic compound, but your GC-MS shows nothing but a messy baseline. What went wrong? The answer might be that your molecule is simply too stubborn to fly — and chemists have a clever trick to make it take off.