Speciation for analysis of organotin compounds by GC AA and GC MS after ethylation by sodium tetraethylborate

A range of organotin compounds has been ethylated using the reagent sodium tetraethylborate in a simple one‐step procedure. Analysis of the volatile, fully alkylated derivatives has been achieved by GC AA with confirmation of the identity of the resulting ethylated derivatives by GC MS. Conditions for the GC AA and GC MS analysis of the organometallic ethyl derivatives are given.