In which dialdehyde are two formyl groups attached to adjacent carbon centres on a benzene ring and form fluorescent conjugation products with primary amines?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Phthalaldehyde.
- Phthalaldehyde, specifically ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), features two formyl groups (-CHO) attached to adjacent carbon atoms on a benzene ring.
- This structure enables OPA to react with primary amines, yielding highly fluorescent isoindole derivatives. This reaction is widely used in analytical chemistry, particularly for detecting and quantifying amino acids, peptides, and proteins. The fluorescent products' intensity is proportional to the amine concentration, making OPA a valuable reagent in various assays.