MTBSTFA

{{Chembox
| SystematicName = ''N''-(''t''-Butyldimethylsilyl)-''N''-methyltrifluoroacetamide
}}

'''MTBSTFA''' ([[systematic name]] '''''N''-(''t''-butyldimethylsilyl)-''N''-methyltrifluoroacetamide''') is a [[reagent]] used for [[Derivative (chemistry)|derivatizing]] compounds to make them easier to analyze by [[gas chromatography]]. It is one of several reagents used to [[covalent bond|covalently]] link alkyl[[silyl]] groups to certain [[functional group]]s of the compound to be analyzed. The resulting [[analyte]]s are less [[chemical polarity|polar]]. MTBSTFA adds ''t''-butyldimethylsilyl (MTBS) to convert, for example, converting [[alcohol]]s to MSBS [[ether]]s and those [[silyl ether]]s are less able to [[hydrogen bond]]. MTBSTFA and [[BSTFA]], the latter of which which adds [[trimethylsilyl]] groups, are the two most commonly used derivitizing agents.{{cite journal |last1= Schummer |first1= C. |last2= Delhomme |first2= O. |last3= Appenzeller |first3= B. |last4= Wennig |first4= R. |last5= Millet |first5= M. |title= Comparison of MTBSTFA and BSTFA in derivatization reactions of polar compounds prior to GC/MS analysis |journal= Talanta |date= 2009 |volume= 77 |issue= 4 |pages= 1473–1482 |doi= 10.1016/j.talanta.2008.09.043 |pmid= 19084667 }}

MTBSTFA is being used on the ''[[Curiosity]]'' Mars rover as part of experiments analyzing the composition of rock samples to search for [[organic molecule]]s.{{Cite web|title=Sols 2880-2882: MSL's SAM TMAH A-Okay! - NASA Science|url=https://science.nasa.gov/blog/sols-2880-2882-msls-sam-tmah-a-okay/|date=2020-09-11|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en-US}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Gas chromatography]]
[[Category:Tert-butyl compounds]]
[[Category:Methyl compounds]]
[[Category:Organosilicon compounds]]


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