(S)-Trolox methyl ether is known as a powerful chiral reagent for the e.e. determination of chiral alcohols by separation of the corresponding diastereoisomeric esters on achiral GC and SFC columns. In order to further improve his methodology, five possible candidates resultings from variation of structural elements of parent reagent have been tested for derivatization with selected alcohols and subsequent analysis of the diastereoisomeric pairs of esters. The results of this optimization procedure showing the ways to new potent reagents are discussed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.