Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of trimethylsilyl derivatives of omega-amino acids.

The silylation of C4-C11 omega-amino acids and their hydrochlorides was carried out with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide. Di-TMS and tri-TMS derivatives were formed in the silylation of the hydrochlorides. The formation of the two derivatives is dependent on the reaction conditions, and the conditions under which only derivative arises reproducibly, are reported. This finding may be utilized in the quantitative analysis of amino acids.