4-(Trifluoromethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl bromide as a new electrophoric derivatizing reagent

4-(Trifluoromethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl bromide (TTBB) was synthesized in a single step from alpha,alpha,alpha,2,3,5,6-heptafluoro-p-xylene. The purpose of TTBB is to function as an analogue of pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFBB) in electrophoric derivatization reactions prior to detection by gas chromatography-electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI-MS). In more detail, it was anticipated that TTBB could be used along with, or as a substitute for, PFBB to help control some interferences and confirm results. This is because a TTBB-product (of an analyte) would have different retention and sometimes m/z characteristics than a corresponding PFBB product in GC-ECNI-MS, while the two products should be similar in their ease of formation and yields. Results demonstrating these expectations were achieved by derivatizing and detecting two analytes with these reagents: N7-(2-hydroxyethyl)xanthine, and 2,3-pyrenedicarboxylic acid.