Electron-capture capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of trifluoroacetylated cytokinins

Abstract Trifluoroacetylated derivatives of cytokinins, including N 6 -(Δ 2 -isopentenyl)adenine, N 6 -(Δ 2 -isopentenyl)adenosine, N 6 -fufuryladenine (kinetin), N 6 -benzyladenine, trans -zeatin, dihydrozeatin and trans -zeatin riboside, were chromatographed on fused silica capillary columns and investigated by electron impact mass spectrometry. By using the “on-column” injection technique and electron capture detection, quantities as low as 1 pg of cytokinins can be detected.