We demonstrate herein the application of selective derivatizationmethod that converts volatile and labile
trialkylphosphites (TAPs)into virtually non-volatile,thermally stable, and UV absorbing derivatives. After
simple sample preparation, purification/enrichment ofthe derivatives was achieved by using high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to on-line post column solid phase extraction (SPE) system.
These derivatives were subjected to 31P{1H} NMR and 1D-selTOCSY experiments. Conclusive identification
was achieved on the basis of their HPLC retention time and NMR spectral signatures (ıH1 , ıpE1 , nJH–H,
and 3JP–H). This method was tested for the unambiguous identification of a mixture containing low concentrations
(∼10 g mL−1) of trimethylphosphite (TMP), triethylphosphite (TEP), triisopropylphosphite
(TIP), and tributylphosphite (TBP) along with a high concentration of irrelevant background chemicals. It
offered a high dynamic range and good detection limit and recovery (>75%) without the need for special
NMR probe heads or exotic NMR experiments.