Direct Injection Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectrometric Analysis for Denatonium Benzoate in Specific Denatured Alcohol Formulations

Direct injection GC/MS was investigated for the analysis of benzyldiethyl(2,6-xylylcarbamoylmethyl)ammonium benzoate (Bitrex), a quaternary ammonium salt, in various Canadian denatured alcohol formulations. Bitrex yielded predominantly a peak due to the neutral diethylamine derivative (I). The structure of I, elucidated by MS and NMR, is strongly related to that of the cation of Bitrex. Compound I was formed from Bitrex in the heated injector...