The preparation of trimethylsilyl derivatives of sodium salts of organic acids.

Evidence is presented to confirm that N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide does not form trimethylsilyl derivatives of sodium salts of many organic acids. Further evidence suggests that such derivatives are formed when either hydroxylamine hydrochloride or trimethylchlorosilane are also present. This presents a useful technique of reducing losses of organic acids due to evaporation during lyophilisation by converting them to sodium salts and preparing volatile derivatives for gas chromatography directly from the salt residue.