ABSTRACT
Liquid chromatography (LC) is well recognized as an ideal tool for the analysis of a variety of compounds, in particular compounds which are polar and unstable. The great success of this methodology is ascribable to the development of excellent software for the detection system as well as fine instrumentation and column technology hardware. The fluorescence intensity is significantly affected by interactions between the solvent and solute molecule. LC with fluorescence labeling has been widely applied to the determination of trace components in biological materials. A number of alkylating agents with active halogens as leaving groups have been developed for the fluorescence labeling of the carboxyl group. The use of crown ether which is capable of forming a soluble cation complex with basic catalysts such as potassium carbonate or potassium hydroxide accelerates the derivatization reactions. Carboxylic acid chlorides are commonly used for derivatization of hydroxyl compounds.
