Specific detection of aromatic compounds containing sulphur and thiazole compounds on thin-layer chromatographic plates

Abstract

Thin-layer chromatographic procedures involving the use of silica gel G plates have been developed for the specific detection of aromatic sulphur-containing and thiazole compounds in amounts of 4 µg. A mixture of chloroform-methanol (9 + 1) was used as the developing system. Thiazole compounds with a free ortho position with respect to sulphur and aromatic sulphur-containing compounds (benzene derivatives) have been detected by using ninhydrin, and all aromatic sulphur-containing compounds can be detected by using copper(II) acetate containing hydroxylammonium chloride as the spray reagent. A method is described for distinguishing between the benzene-derived and heterocyclic sulphur-containing compounds.