ISSN: 0022-1198
Page Count: 5

Latent Fingerprint Visualization by 1,2-Indanedione and Related Compounds: Preliminary Results
Frank, A
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (D.I.F.S.) Israel Police, National H.Q.,

Bahar, E
Visiting scientists, D.I.F.S., Israel Police,

Springer, E
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (D.I.F.S.) Israel Police, National H.Q.,

Varkony, H
Visiting scientists, D.I.F.S., Israel Police,

Almog, J
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (D.I.F.S.) Israel Police, National H.Q.,

Khodzhaev, O
Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University,

Lidor, R
Visiting scientists, D.I.F.S., Israel Police,

Dayan, S
School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University,

Rozen, S
School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University,

Wiesner, S
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (D.I.F.S.) Israel Police, National H.Q.,

(Received 18 February 1998; accepted 27 April 1998)

Abstract

A number of vicinal cyclic diketones, most of them belonging to the 1,2-indanedione series, have been prepared and tested as potential reagents for latent fingerprint development. Unsubstituted 1,2-indanedione and a number of its mono- and dimethoxy- derivatives exhibited excellent properties as fluorogenic reagents for latent prints on paper. Structural modifications, such as substitutions at position 3, omission of the benzene ring or increase of the five-membered to a six-membered ring, considerably reduced this activity. Quite surprisingly, benzo[f]indane-1,2-dione, which was synthesized for the first time in this work, was significantly inferior to 1,2-indanedione as a fingerprint reagent.

Even at this stage, before optimization of the reaction conditions, it can be said that some 1,2-indanediones are at least as sensitive as DFO. Their solubility in nonpolar solvents and relative case of preparation are further advantages. It is the authors' opinion that 1,2-indanedione itself may soon become a practical fingerprint reagent.

Keywords:
forensic science, cyclic diketones, 1,8-diazofluorene-9-one, latent fingerprints, fluorescence, indanediones

Paper ID: JFS14421J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14421J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.