Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) detector for gas chromatography (GC) provides qualitative spectral information from 125 nm to 240 nm. In this article, this information was applied to facilitate the development of a GC method for challenging pharmaceutical applications. Seven organic solvents were screened for trace level water content using VUV detection at 168 nm, and the results were used to identify n-hexane as a suitable diluent for 4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-buten-2-one (ETFBO), a water reactive compound. Selective detection of compounds of interest was demonstrated by varying detection wavelengths. All compounds were detected at 145 nm except for one unknown impurity, which co-eluted with n-hexane solvent. This impurity was detected at 225 nm, where n-hexane has no absorbance. In addition, the VUV spectra were used to: 1) accurately track peaks during early method development; 2) detect co-eluting peaks; 3) match peak identity in a sample vs. a standard; and 4) assess peak purity. With the universal detectability, qualitative spectral information and ease of use, VUV will become a versatile tool for GC for both method development and routine analysis.

用于气相色谱（GC）的真空紫外（VUV）检测器可提供125 nm至240 nm的定性光谱信息。在本文中，此信息用于促进针对挑战性药物应用的GC方法的开发。使用VUV检测器在168 nm处筛选了七种有机溶剂的痕量水含量，并将结果用于鉴定正己烷作为4-乙氧基-1,1,1-三氟-3-丁烯-2-的合适稀释剂一种（ETFBO），一种水反应性化合物。通过改变检测波长来证明对目标化合物的选择性检测。除一种未知杂质外，所有化合物均在145 nm处检测到，该杂质与正己烷溶剂共洗脱。在225 nm处检测到该杂质，其中正己烷没有吸收。此外，VUV光谱还用于：1）在早期方法开发过程中准确跟踪峰；2）检测共洗脱峰；3）将样品中的峰同一性与标准品相匹配；和4）评估峰纯度。凭借通用的可检测性，定性的光谱信息和易用性，VUV将成为用于方法开发和常规分析的气相色谱通用工具。