Abstract: Arapid and microanalytical method has been developed by using gas chromato-graphymass spectrometry for quantifying racemic-2-octanol, which can be easily converted to its diastereoisomer by treatment with a-acetyl-L-propionyl chloride in the presence of pyridine.The enantiomers of 2-octanol were separated as their a-acetyl-L-propionic ester derivatives on a capillary column coated with SE-30 or squalane as the stationary phase.