Methylpyridine derivatives serve as crucial components and intermediates in agrochemical products, particularly synthetic auxin herbicides. Accurate structural elucidation of these compounds is required for regulatory compliance and successful product registration. While mass spectrometry (MS) techniques are commonly employed for structural analysis, their effectiveness decreases when dealing with isomeric compounds. In this study, we propose an integrated workflow that combines gas chromatography–infrared spectroscopy (GC-IR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to enable structural elucidation of methylpyridine derivatives. GC-IR provides temporally resolved infrared (IR) spectra, enabling qualitative and quantitative analysis without compound isolation. GC-IR can effectively distinguish isomeric compounds by comparing IR spectra of energy-minimized structures calculated using DFT, even when the spectral differences are subtle. Our comprehensive approach leverages GC-MS, GC-IR, and DFT calculations, facilitating robust structural characterization of methylpyridine derivatives utilized in the production of diverse agrochemical products.
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