Synthesis and application of 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-N-methylhydrazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (MDBDH) as a new derivatizing agent for aldehydes.

In a five step synthesis, 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-N-methylhydrazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (MDBDH) was prepared in high yields as a stable new derivatizing agent for carbonyl compounds. Reagent and derivatives have not been described in literature before. Major advantage of this substance compared with similar reagents is its improved solubility in polar solvents, e.g. methanol and ethanol. MDBDH reacts with aldehydes in the presence of an acidic catalyst under formation of the corresponding hydrazones. These are separated by means of reversed-phase liquid chromatography and detected UV/vis spectroscopically at wavelengths around 450 nm, depending on the individual hydrazone. MDBDH reacts with oxidizers as nitrogen dioxide and nitrite to only one product, 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-methylamino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (MDBDA), which can easily be separated from the hydrazones of lower aldehydes. Due to large molar absorptivities and absorption maxima at wavelengths > 430 nm, limits of detection range from 4 x 10(-8) to 6 x 10(-8) mol.L-1, and limits of quantification range from 1 x 10(-7) to 2 x 10(-7) mol.L-1 for the individual hydrazones. The method was applied to the determination of aldehydes in automobile exhaust.