Abstract
Fluorescence was observed in the reaction of pentose with anthrone in strong sulfuric acid. The range of its fluorescence spectrum was from 470 to 600 mμ and the maximum was at about 510 mμ. The anthrone reagent itself had a flat fluorescence spectrum from 420 to 600 mμ for it contains anthranol, but the shape of its spectrum was quite different from pentose fluorescence, and, furthermore, the intensity was far weaker than pentose fluorescence. In the case of glucose the fluorescence spectrum resembled that of the blank. This reaction was specific for pentose in the presence of hexose, but excess glucose decreased the pentose fluorescence.
