The Use of Leuco Triphenylmethanes as Reagents for Bacterial Polysaccharide S. (Preliminary Report)

The present investigation was initiated because of the need of a reagent for detecting and estimating bacterial polysaccharides without having to hydrolyze them before testing. It was found that acidulated solutions of leuco triphenylmethanes and reduced bases of triphenylmethanes are either precipitated or oxidized to colored compounds by bacterial polysaccharides. Nonbacterial polysaccharides and simpler carbohydrates gave negative reactions. The wide variety of reactions obtainable by using different compounds of this group of intermediates makes it possible to apply them to many different polysaccharide problems. An outline is given of the reactions obtained by typical reagents.