IV Acetate — Fuchsin Reagent

Dipping solution I Dissolve 1 g lead(IV) acetate (lead tetraacetate) in 100 ml ethanol. 

Solution I should always be freshly prepared, solution II may be stored for a longer period of time. 

The reaction depends, on the one hand, on the fact that fuchsin is decolorized by oxidizing agents (e.g. lead(IV) acetate) and, on the other hand, on the fact that lead(IV) acetate is reduced by compounds containing a-diol groups. It is, therefore, no longer available to decolorize the fuchsin. The fuchsin undergoes a Schiff reaction with the aldehydes that are formed [2]. 

The chromatogram is freed from mobile phase, immersed for 3 s in dipping solution I or sprayed homogeneously with spray solution I and then dried for ca. 10 min in a stream of cold air. It is then immersed for 1 s in dipping solution II or sprayed evenly with spray solution II. 

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