BSTFA

N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) is an organosilicon compound. It is a colorless liquid that is very sensitive to traces of water or alcohols.

It is often used to convert hydroxyl groups to trimethylsilyl ether groups (Me = CH3):
 * ROH + CF3C(OSiMe3)NSiMe3 → CF3C(O)NH(SiMe3)  +  ROSiMe3

These silylated derivatives are amenable to analysis or further manipulation. Siloxanes are invariably more volatile than their hydroxyl precursors, and thus they can be more easily analyzed with gas chromatography.

This reagent was first reported in 1968.

Related compound

 * Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide, MeC(OSiMe3)NSiMe3