Indole amines and indole alcohols were converted to heptafluoro-butyryl (HFB) derivatives by an acyl transfer reaction with heptafluoro-butyrylimidazole. The indole NH group as well as all amino and hydroxyl groups were acylated. The HFB derivatives have excellent gas chroma-tographic properties and can be used with either hydrogen flame or electron capture detection systems. Mass spectra of the HFB derivatives of biologic N, N-dialkyl indole amines are very characteristic; these compounds can be identified easily by GLC-MS methods.