Derivatisoida

Derivatisoida refers to the chemical modification of a compound to form a derivative that is easier to detect, separate, or quantify in analytical methods. The process typically alters functional groups to improve properties such as volatility, stability, or detector response, while preserving the essential identity of the molecule for later identification. In Finnish scientific literature, derivatization is common and the English term derivatization or derivatisation is used interchangeably.

Purposes of derivatization include increasing volatility for gas chromatography, enhancing detectability by UV, fluorescence, or mass spectrometry, and adjusting polarity to improve chromatographic separation. It can also stabilize reactive or labile species or enable selective detection. Derivatization can be performed before separation (pre-column) or in-line with detection (post-column or online derivatization), depending on the analytical setup.

Methods and reagents vary by target analyte. Silylation, using reagents such as BSTFA or MTBSTFA, is widely used to replace active hydrogens with silyl groups and thereby increase volatility and thermal stability. Other common approaches include acylation or esterification to modify polarity, and tagging with chromophores or fluorophores (for example, DNPH for carbonyl compounds or dansyl chloride for amines) to improve optical detection. Derivatization can also be tailored to mass spectrometry to enhance ionization efficiency.

Applications and considerations enroll across many fields, including gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and fluorescence-based analyses. Derivatization is common in metabolomics, environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical analysis, and clinical chemistry. Its advantages must be weighed against potential drawbacks, such as incomplete reactions, formation of artifacts, added steps and costs, and the need for careful optimization and validation to ensure reliable results.