Preparation and analysis of a volatile derivative of cysteic acid

Summary We have reported preparations and gas chromatographic analyses of volatile derivatives of sulfuric acid and taurine (Masuoka et al., 1988; 1989). By extending these studies, we have developed a method for the gas chromatographic determination of cysteic acid. Cysteic acid was converted to the N-isobutoxycarbonyl derivative by the reaction with isobutyl chloroformate in the presence of sodium hydroxide. After desalting with a cation-exchange column, the derivative was converted to the silver salt by reacting with silver oxide. The resulting silver salt was quantitatively esterified with methyl iodide in the presence of dimethyl sulfate and silver oxide. Dimethyl N-isobutoxy-carbonylcysteate [methyl 2-(N-isobutoxycarbonylamino)-3-(methoxysulfonyl) propanoate] formed was analyzed by gas chromatography. The calibration curve was linear up to 5.0µmol per ml of cysteic acid and the recovery was more than 95%.