BSTFA - Silylation Reagent

BSTFA is a powerful trimethylsilyl donor with approximately the same donor strength as the nonfluorinated analog BSA.

Advantage of BSTFA over BSA
Greater volatility of its derivatives (particularly useful for GC of some lower boiling TMS amino acids). BSTFA will generally react with all organic material present, but may not react with some amides, secondary amines and hindered hydroxyl groups. However, adding 1 % TMCS (SILYL-991) will solve that problem.