Biomaterial Database

Product in indole detection by Ehrlich's reagent. 2015

Adam C Lamb, and Roberto A Federico-Perez, and Zi-Ling Xue

Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

Ehrlich's reagent (p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde [DMAB, 1] in 95% EtOH with HCl as catalyst) was employed in spot tests of indoles, providing a diagnosis of, for example, liver diseases, hemolytic processes, occlusion of the common bile duct, and carcinoid syndrome. Although the reagent has been widely used for more than a century, it is not clear how many indole molecules react with a DMAB molecule and whether the reaction takes place at the α- or β-position of the indole molecule. Research here shows that the reaction of DMAB (1) with indole (2) in a 1:2 ratio gives β-bis(indolyl)methane (3). The reaction occurs at the β-position of indole under the conditions of the Ehrlich test, as confirmed by the crystal structure of 3.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007211	Indoles	Benzopyrroles with the nitrogen at the number one carbon adjacent to the benzyl portion, in contrast to ISOINDOLES which have the nitrogen away from the six-membered ring.
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D008968	Molecular Conformation	The characteristic three-dimensional shape of a molecule.	Molecular Configuration,3D Molecular Structure,Configuration, Molecular,Molecular Structure, Three Dimensional,Three Dimensional Molecular Structure,3D Molecular Structures,Configurations, Molecular,Conformation, Molecular,Conformations, Molecular,Molecular Configurations,Molecular Conformations,Molecular Structure, 3D,Molecular Structures, 3D,Structure, 3D Molecular,Structures, 3D Molecular
D001547	Benzaldehydes	Compounds that consist of a benzene ring with a formyl group. They occur naturally in the seeds of many fruits and are used as FLAVORING AGENTS and fragrances, as well as precursors in pharmaceutical and plastics manufacturing.