Supelco provides high quality derivatization reagents for silylation.
Silylation is the most widely used derivatization technique. Functional groups that present a problem with gas chromatogaphy detection - hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, amine, thiol, phosphate - can be derivatized by silylation reagents. Silylation involves replacement of the acidic hydrogen with an alkylsilyl group, for example, -SiMe3.
Silylation derivatives are generally less polar, more volatile and thermally more stable. The choice of a silylating reagent is based on its reactivity and selectivity towards the compound, the intended application, the stability of the derivative, and the abundance/nature of reaction byproducts.