Application of sec-butanol to the derivatization of hydroxyfuranones

This paper reports the use of sec-butanol for the derivatization of chlorinated hydroxyfuranones. The following hydroxyfuranones were investigated: 3,4-dichloro-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone, 3,4-dibromo-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone, 3-chloro-4-(chloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone, and 3-chloro-4-methyl-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone. Their derivatization products were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The sec-butyl derivatives of the hydroxyfuranones investigated yield ions that are less abundant than those obtained for the corresponding isopropyl derivatives. However, sec-butyl derivatives are easily detectable in especially dirty matrixes because they produce double peaks in the chromatogram. The ion intensity of the first peak in the pair is lower than that of the second peak, but both are characterized by the same spectrum. The formation of multiple peaks is related to the formation of diastereoisomers during derivatization.