RAPID GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ALDOSES AS THEIR DIETHYL DITHIOACETAL TRIMETHYLSILYLATES

A simple gas chromatographic method has been developed for the rapid determination of aldoses, which gives single peaks for the aldoses. A sample of an aldose or a mixture of aldoses is first mercaptalated with a mixture of ethanethiol and trifluoroacetic acid (2:1) and then trimethylsilylated. Gas chromatographic analysis of the derivatized products on a SCOT SF-96 column permits the analysis of aldoses at the 10-6 mole level with a coefficient of variation of less than 2%. The total analysis time, including derivatization, is within 2 h. Some applications of this method are presented. © 1979.