 A newer chiral derivatizing agent (CDA), α-cyano-α-fluoro (2-naphthyl)-acetic acid (2-CFNA) was prepared in optically pure form by the chiral HPLC separation of a racemic 2-CFNA methyl ester.This ester was obtained by fluorination of methyl α-cyano (2-naphthyl) acetate with FClO3.2-CFNA has been shown to be a superior CDA than Mosher’s agent to determine the enantiomeric excess of a primary alcohol.