Abstract
BORIC acid forms complexes with compounds having adjacent OH groups in the cisposition. The pK′ values of the complexes are lower than that of free boric acid, so that in the presence of diols it behaves as a stronger acid. This property has been used to detect cisdiols on paper chromatograms. Spraying the dried paper with a 0.1 per cent solution of bromcresol purple in 0.5 per cent sodium carbonate solution which has been adjusted to pH 6.8 with hydrochloric acid reveals all acidic substances as yellow spots on a purple background.
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Baddiley, J., et al., J. Chem. Soc., 2318 (1956).
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VINCENT, W. Detection of Diols on Paper Chromatograms. Nature 196, 771 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/196771a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/196771a0
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