Application of 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carbaldehyde as a fluorogenic reagent for the analysis of primary amines by liquid chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

3-(2-Furoyl)quinoline-2-carbaldehyde (FQCA) has been synthesized and characterized as a fluorogenic derivatizing reagent for liquid chromatography. The reagent forms highly fluorescent isoindoles upon reaction with primary amines. The spectral properties and optimum reaction conditions for the formation of isoindoles have been investigated. The utility of FQCA for the high-sensitivity analysis of amino acids by laser-induced fluorescence with an argon-ion laser is demonstrated.