Used for sample derivatization in gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. Enhances the volatility and detectability of alcohols acids amines sugars steroids and other polar compounds. Applied in pharmaceutical environmental forensic food and biochemical analyses. Used in research laboratories for the characterization and quantification of organic compounds.

Its primary purpose is to convert polar non-volatile compounds into volatile thermally stable derivatives suitable for accurate GC and GC-MS analysis thereby improving analytical performance and sensitivity.

N O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) is a colorless moisture-sensitive organosilicon reagent widely used as a silylating (derivatization) agent in analytical chemistry. It reacts with compounds containing active hydrogen atoms such as hydroxyl carboxyl amino and thiol groups converting them into more volatile and thermally stable trimethylsilyl derivatives.