Use of p-benzoquinone as a TLC derivatization reagent for 2-(methylamino)ethanol and for the analysis of other primary and secondary amines

TLC is an ideal technique for quantitative analysis of an ethanolamine compound, 2-(methylamino)ethanol. A semi-quantitative TLC method has been developed that can be used to determine the level of 2-(methylamino)ethanol in the pyridyl compound 2-(N-methyl-N-2-pyridylamino)ethanol. The method was reliable and a good alternative to gas chromatographic analysis; the latter was shown to be problematic because of the non-linear response to 2-(methylamino)ethanol. TLC detection was performed after derivatization with p-benzoquinone reagent. The chemistry of the derivatization reaction was studied and was found to be influenced by the solvent used to dissolve the reagent. Some recommendations are made on the use of p-benzoquinone. The use of p-benzoquinone as a derivatization reagent for amines was also studied and compared with use of an established amine-specific reagent, Fast Black K Salt. It was found that p-benzoquinone is a useful and sensitive derivatization reagent for some primary and secondary amino compounds.