Fluorescence labelling of organic acidic compounds with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin (Br-Mmc)

4-Bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin (Br-Mmc) is introduced as a fluorescence marker for aromatic and heterocyclic acids. To investigate the applicability of this method on substances of different chemical classes, screening experiments with 110 compounds were carried out using a microrefluxer. Most aromatic and heterocyclic monocarboxylic acids gave Mmc-esters which are fluorescent on thin-layer plates, like the Mmc-esters of fatty acids, which have been previously investigated. Strong acids, alcohols, amides and most amines did not react, whereas certain cyclic amines such as piperidine gave strongly fluorescent derivatives. Mmc-phenyl ethers shows only weak fluorescence. A new standard proced…