Abbreviated as MSTFA. The most volatile trimethylsilyl amide available. used for trimethylsilylation of carboxylic acids, hydroxy and ketocarboxylic acids, amino acids, amines, alcohols, polyalcohols, sugars, mercaptans and similar compounds with active hydrogen atoms. Even amine hydrochlorides can be silylated directly. Applied most frequently in GC silylation.1 Employed in an improved silylation procedure for simultaneous detection of steroid hormones 17-α-ethynylestradiol and estrone by GC-MS,2 mass spectrometric characterization of deuterated ephedrines,3 analysis of phenylpiperazine-like stimulants in human hair as trimethylsilyl derivatives by GC-MS,4 and determination of pipecolic acid following trimethylsilyl and trifluoroacyl derivatization on plasma filter paper by stable isotope GC-MS for peroxisomal disorders.5 Also used as silylation reagent for Uranium-catalyzed dehydration of primary amides to nitriles.6
Reference
1. Phosphorus, Sulfur Silicon Relat. Elem. 1994, 88, 53.
2. J. Chromatogr. 2006, 1108, 121.
3. Eur. J. Mass Spectrom. 2004, 10, 673.
4. J. Chromatogr. A 2010, 1217, 6274.
5. Arch. Pharmacal Res. 2010, 33, 317.
6. Chem.--Eur. J. 2011, 17, 9316.