Fuel Markers and Methods of Producing and Using Same

A compound characterized by Formula I:

• wherein X can be carbon (C), oxygen (O), or sulfur (S);
• wherein, when X is C, R1 and R2 can each independently be hydrogen, a C1 to C20 alkyl group, or a C6 to C10 aryl group, and wherein the C6 to C10 aryl group is a hydrocarbon;
• wherein, when X is O or S, R1 and R2 are lone non-bonding electron pairs;
• R3 and R3′ can each independently be hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl group;
• R4 and R4′ can each independently be hydrogen, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C4 to C10 cycloalkyl group, or a C6 to C10 aryl group;
• R5 and R5′ can each independently be a C4 to C10 alkyl group;
• R6 and R6′ can each independently be hydrogen or a C1 to C6 alkyl group;
• and R7 and R7′ can each independently be hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl group;
• and wherein the compound characterized by Formula I when subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using electron ionization produces at least one ion having a mass-to-charge ratio of greater than 300 at an ionization energy of equal to or greater than 70 eV.