Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of conjugated dienes by derivatization with 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione.

The dienophile 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione forms stable adducts with conjugated dienes by generating Diels-Alder cycloaddition products. The reaction is rapid, highly selective for conjugated dienes and the derivatives are suitable for analysis by gas chromatography. Their mass spectra are marked by their simplicity and by the presence of abundant fragment ions diagnostic of the diene position in the parent compound.