Derivatization of amines and amino acids

Primary and secondary amines have been converted to dithiocarbamates, of which only those derived from primary amines undergo elimination of alkanethiol in the injection port to yield isothiocyanates [234]  

A means of distinguishing between primary and secondary amines is thus available. 

A modern adaptation of the classic Hinsberg method, whereby primary and secondary amines are converted to sulfonamides using benzenesulfonyl chloride (but only the secondary sulfonamides remain non-neutralized by sodium hydroxide), was 

Catecholamines are particularly polar and difficult to extract from aqueous media. An acylating agent convenient to use directly in aqueous solution is methyl chloroformate [236], Cl-CO-OMe. Amino and phenolic hydroxyl groups are converted to carbamate (MeO-CO-NHR) and carbonate (MeO-CO-OAr) groups simultaneously, with aliphatic hydroxyl groups subsequently silylated. 

When the hydroxyl and amino groups are located on adjacent carbon atoms, a stable heterocycle can be formed by the addition of a chloromethylsilylating agent [237,238]  

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N-Succinimidyl-p-nitrophenyl acetate (SNPA) derivatization of amines and amino acids... 

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