Detection of some precursors of adrenaline by paper chromatography.

Abstract

DURING studies on the biosynthesis of adrenaline, both para- and meta-hydroxyphenylethanolamine have been found to form noradrenaline following ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of air1. Whereas the para compound has been identified in Octopus vulgaris2, the meta compound has not hitherto been found occurring naturally. Their detection in biological materials is a major problem. With the aid of paper chromatography, using a solvent of butanol (4 vol.), glacial acetic acid (1 vol.) and water (5 vol.), we have found that the meta compound exhibits an intense violet fluorescence under ultra-violet light when the developing agent is a mixture of 9 vol. of a solution of either potassium ferricyanide or dichromate (0.66 per cent) and 1 vol. of formaldehyde (40 per cent), followed by exposure to heat (100° C.) for 5 min. As little as 0.5 µgm. (RF value 0.56) can be identified by this test. Development with the p-nitraniline reagent3 results in a dark red spot (similar to that produced with the para compound), but this test is only sensitive to 5 µgm.