Polymers with reactive functions as sampling and derivatizing agents—Part 2. Polymeric pentafluorobenzoylating reagent for gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric determination of aliphatic amines

Abstract

Polystyrene resins containing mixed carbonic–pentafluorobenzoic anhydride functions have been synthesized and utilized for the derivatization of a number of primary and secondary aliphatic amines in high yields, under mild conditions. The pentafluorobenzamides formed were identified and quantified by use of capillary column gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring in the negative ion chemical ionization mode. The lower limit of detection for butylamine as a model amine was 2 pg per 2 µl injection and the calibration graph showed linearity in the range 5–250 ng ml^–1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9956. Primary and secondary amines were chosen as substrates for the evaluation and application of the polymeric reagent in view of their good nucleophilicity and their prevalence as pollutants in the workplace.