Abstract
The detection depends on a color reaction between aromatic primary amines and glutaconic aldehyde which is formed by hydrolysis of pyridine in ultraviolet light. The procedure for spot test is as follows: One drop of the sample solution in ethanol or pyridine is placed on a filter paper, and the paper is immediately sprayed with a mixture of pyridine-ethanol (1 : 1, by vol.) and irradiated with ultraviolet light. Aromatic primary amines are visualized as yellow, orange, red or violet spots on the slightly yellow background. The limit of detection is (0.10.3) μg. The procedure can also be applicable to the detection of aromatic primary amines on paper or thin-layer plate chromatograms. After development, the chromatograms are immediately sprayed with the pyridine-ethanol mixture and irradiated with ultraviolet light.
