A novel method using methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as extractant and 1,2-dibromopropane as internal standard for the determination of the disinfection by-producs 1,1-dichloroacetone (DCAce) by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was described. The formation process of DCAce and its influencing factors were discussed with L-leucine as the precursor during the chloramination process. The results indicated that the DCAce production increased with the increase of chloramine dosage when the chloramine addition was in the range of 5-30 mg · L(-1). The DCAce amount produced under alkaline condition was higher than those produced under the neutral and acidic conditions, and the DCAce amount reduced with the increase of pH value. Temperature was another important factor that affected the DCAce formation from methylamine especially in the range of 15-35°C , and the higher the temperature, the more the DCAce produced. The formation process of DCAce from L-leucine by chloramine consisted of a series of complicated reactions, including substitution, oxidation, bond breaking, amino diazotization, reduction and so on, and eventually DCAce was formed.