Bial’s test

The orcinol reaction (Al) is simple, and further evidence of identification can be gained by determining the absorption spectrum of the color obtained by the reaction. The reaction is not specific for pentoses. Bial s test (HI) for pentoses in the urine represents the qualitative version of this reaction. 

Bial s test for proving neuraminic acid (Diezel 1955). 

Measuring the rate of disappearance of ribose-5-phosphate in the first reaction with orcinol reagent (i.e. Bial s test, q.v.). 

By careful choice of both the reaction conditions and the phenolic compound used, it may be possible to produce a colour that is characteristic of a particular carbohydrate or related group, so giving some degree of specificity to the method. Thus, Seliwanoff s test uses hydrochloric acid and either resorcinol or 3-indolylacetic acid to measure fructose with minimal interference from glucose. The colour produced by pentoses with orcinol (Bial s reagent) or p-bromoaniline is sufficiently different from that produced by hexoses to permit their quantitation in the presence of hexoses. However, none of the methods based on the formation of furfural or its derivatives can be considered to be entirely specific. 

Qualitatively, the presence of the nonulosaminic acids is best indicated by the brilliant-red coloration formed on addition of an acidic solution of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (the so-called direct Ehrlich reaction ), and by the bright-purple coloration which develops upon boiling with Bial s reagent for several minutes at 100°. In addition, the nonulosaminic acids give a blue-violet coloration with Dische s diphenylamine reagent for deoxypentoses and a positive reaction in the tryptophan-perchloric acid test. Since no single one of these color reactions is absolutely specific for a nonulosaminic acid, it is advisable to carry out at least two of these for a qualitative analysis. For quantitative determinations, all four reactions have been employed, using either A/ -acetylneuraminic acid (m. p., 183-185° [a] —32.0°) or methoxyneuraminic acid [m. p., 200° (dec.) [a]o —55.0°] as colorimetric standards. 

Detailed colorimetric assay methods for nucleic acid derivatives will be confined to descriptions of slight modifications of three procedures diich have withstood well the test of time (f) the Mejbaum (76) modification of the Bial orcinol reaction for pentose (2) the Dische (42) diphenylamine method for desoxypentose and (S) the method of Fiske and Subbarow (45) for inorganic orthophosphate. Many other modifications of the original techniques have been advanced but, in our opinion, none offer a complete solution of such difficulties as may be encountered in nudmc acid studies. Discussions of the colorimetric techniques will be foimd in Schlenk s review (89), in the manual edited by Umbreit cf oZ. (61), and in the review by Dische (41). 

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