3‐Benzoyl‐2‐naphthaldehyde, a new fluorogenic reagent for microcolumn liquid chromatography–laser‐induced fluorescence detection of amino acids

3‐Benzoyl‐2‐naphthaldehyde (BNA) was synthesized and characterized as a precolumn derivatization reagent for fluorescence detection. The detection limits for standard amino acids derivatized with BNA are in the femtogram range. The optimum reaction conditions for derivatization and spectral features of BNA‐derivatized amino acids was investigated. The standard amino acid derivatives were adequately resolved by microcolumn liquid chromatography. A minute quantity (646 fmol) of trypsin was hydrolyzed to demonstrate analysis by microcolumn liquid chromatography with laser‐induced fluorescence detection.