An oxazine reagent for derivatization of carboxylic acid analytes suitable for liquid chromatographic detection using visible diode laser-induced fluorescence.

This study reports the use of Nile Blue, an oxazine dye, as a derivatization reagent that fluoresces in the far-red spectral region and is suitable for derivatization with carboxylic-acid-containing analytes. Model carboxylic acid analytes such as benzoic acid, acetic acid, phenylacetic acid and hexanoic acid have been reacted as acid chlorides to form Nile Blue derivatives. The synthesis product of the Nile Blue benzoic acid derivative was confirmed using electrospray-mass spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, reversed phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), normal phase-thin layer chromatography, and spectral characterization. The synthesized Nile Blue derivatives, separated from reaction by-products with RP-HPLC, all demonstrated an approximately 10-fold drop in molar absorptivity and relative quantum yield. In addition, a 40 nm increase in Stokes shift was observed. A portion of the fluorescence was regained through post-column ionization of the Nile Blue benzoic acid derivative at pH 12. A RP-HPLC limit of detection of 88.25 fmol on column has been reported with conventional fluorescence detection-post-column ionization of the Nile Blue benzoic acid derivative. A limit of detection of 1.99 fmol on column (3.98 x 10(-11) M) has been demonstrated for the Nile Blue benzoic acid derivative with the use of a laboratory-constructed visible diode laser fluorescence detector.