Gas chromatographic determination of methylguanidine, guanidine and agmatine as their hexafluoroacetyletonates.

Seven derivatives of each of methylguanidine, guanidine and agmatine have been prepared, and the specificity and volatility of their gas chromatographic detection have been studied. The hexafluoroacetylacetonates have been found to be the most specific for the three guanidines, and are highly sensitive to alkali flame ionization and electron-capture detections. These derivatives are also fairly resistant to hydrolysis occurring in the derivatization process.