[Synthesis and reactivity of anthracene-1-carbonyl azide as a fluorescent derivatization reagent for alcohols].

Anthracene-1-carbonyl azide was found to be a sensitive fluorescent derivatization reagent for primary and secondary alcohols for high-performance liquid chromatography. Reaction conditions were investigated for cholestanol. The reagent reacts with alcohols in benzene in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine to give the corresponding fluorescent urethanes at 100 degrees C for 50 min. The detection limit for cholestanol was 250 fmol for an injection volume of 10 microliters. Tertiary alcohols and phenols do not produce fluorescent derivatives under these conditions.