Chemical evaluation and application of cinnamaldehyde-derived curcumins as potential fingerprint development agents

Abstract

Curcumines comprise a class of substances widely applied in several areas including Papiloscopy which studies human identification through fingerprints. Fingerprints are important physical evidences in criminal investigations generally requiring powders in order to visualize latent fingerprints. In this sense, the aim of this study was to characterize curcumine analogues derived from cinnamaldehyde and to evaluate their efficiency as fingerprint powder. Results showed that the products (1a, 1b and 1c) had a yield above 52% being identified by Infrared spectrophotometer due to the presence of C=H, CH, C=O, C=C and CC bonds which are characteristic moieties of the synthesized curcumins. Likewise, it was possible to identify the molecules by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry through their respective molecular masses (m/z), and by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Regarding fingerprints development, application of 1b allowed the visualization of papillary ridges and their details. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis showed the interaction between powder 1b, the composition of the fingerprint and the substrate. Moreover, particle size analysis indicated that powder 1b (62.41 µm) had smaller particle size compared to the Gold® standard powder (116.66 µm). Therefore, curcumin derivatives were satisfactorily synthesized and characterized as well as powder 1b was able to adequately develop latent fingerprints being an alternative potential to commercial powders.