Capillary GC analysis of biogenic amines, their precursors and catabolytes after fast derivatization with ethyl chloroformate

Abstract Six aromatic biogenic amines, three aromatic amino acid precursors, four aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid catabolytes, and two aromatic glycols were analyzed by capillary GC after derivatization. Instantaneous derivatization was performed by reaction with ethyl chloroformate in a medium of aqueous acetonitrile containing ethanol and pyridine. After extraction of the derivatives into chloroform, the sample was ready for analysis.