MTBSTFA (systematic name N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide) is a reagent used for derivatizing compounds to make them easier to analyze by gas chromatography. It is one of several reagents used to covalently link alkylsilyl groups to certain functional groups of the compound to be analyzed. The resulting analytes are less polar and are less susceptible to hydrogen bonding. MTBSTFA adds t-butyldimethylsilyl to convert, for example, alcohols to tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers. MTBSTFA, and the structurally related BSTFA that adds trimethylsilyl groups, are the two most commonly used silyl derivatizing agents.[2]
-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide.svg) | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
N-[tert-Butyl(dimethyl)silyl]-2,2,2-trifluoro-N-methylacetamide | |
| Systematic IUPAC name
N-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide | |
| Other names
N-(t-Butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
|
| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.116.249 |
| EC Number |
|
PubChem CID |
|
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| C9H18F3NOSi | |
| Molar mass | 241.329 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | colorless |
| Density | 1.023 g/mL |
| Melting point | 168–170 °C (334–338 °F; 441–443 K) |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling:[1] | |
  | |
| Warning | |
| H226, H315, H319, H335 | |
| P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P264+P265, P271, P280, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P319, P321, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501 | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
| |
MTBSTFA is being used on the Curiosity Mars rover as part of experiments analyzing the composition of rock samples to search for organic molecules.[3]
References
edit- ↑ PubChem. "N-Methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
- ↑ Schummer, C.; Delhomme, O.; Appenzeller, B.; Wennig, R.; Millet, M. (2009). "Comparison of MTBSTFA and BSTFA in derivatization reactions of polar compounds prior to GC/MS analysis". Talanta. 77 (4): 1473–1482. Bibcode:2009Talan..77.1473S. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2008.09.043. PMID 19084667.
- ↑ "Sols 2880-2882: MSL's SAM TMAH A-Okay! - NASA Science". 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
 | This article about an organic compound is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
 | This article about analytical chemistry is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |