COMPOUNDS AND REAGENTS FOR OXIDASE TEST

-i-NOVEL COMPOUNDS AND REAGENTS FOR OXIDASE TEST Compounds and reagents containing the compounds are disclosed for detecting oxidase positive organisms. The compounds have the structure wherein COUP- represents a radical that couples with an oxidized primary aromatic amine and releases -LINK-R; -LINK- represents a divalent radical that undergoes intramolecular cyclization and release of -R upon release by COUP-; n represents zero or one; -R represents a monovalent radical that forms a detectable species in the form of a colorimetric dye or fluorescent compound upon release from -LINK-; wherein -R is selected from the group consisting of: ; -ii- ; and -iii- ; wherein W represents hydrogen; halogen; hydroxy; substituted or unsubstituted carbonamido; sulfonamido; sulfonyl; ureido or amino; R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxy, sulfo, cyano, nitro, carboxylic acid ester, carbonyl, sulfonyl, carbonamido, sulfonamido, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl; and R3 and R4 each independently represent halogen, nitro, sulfonamido, sulfonyl, carbonamido, carbonyl, cyano, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl; R6 represents H, CH3 or C2H5; X5 represents , or ; and R5 represents H, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl.