Latent Fingerprint Visualization by 1,2-Indanedione and Related Compounds: Preliminary Results

• NCJ Number: 183297
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1999 Pages: 114-118
• Author(s): J. Almog Ph.D.; E. Springer M.Sc.; S. Wiesner B.Sc.; A. Frank Ph.D.; O. Khodzhaev Ph.D.; R. Lidor Ph.D.; E. Bahar Ph.D.; H. Varkony Ph.D.; S. Dayan M.Sc.; S. Rozen Ph.D.
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research tested a number of chemicals compounds belonging to the 1,2-indanedione series and related ones to determine their usefulness as potential reagents for the development of latent fingerprints.

Abstract

The research took place in Israel. Unsubstituted 1,2-indanedione and a number of its mono-derivatives and dimethoxy-derivatives exhibited excellent properties as fluorogenic reagents for latent fingerprints 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. A surprising finding was that denzo(f)indane-1,2-dione, which was synthesized for the first time in this research, was significantly inferior to 1,2-indanedione as a fingerprint reagent. Findings indicated that some 1,2-indanediones are at least as sensitive as 1,8-diazofluorene-9-one. Their solubility in nonpolar solvents and their relative ease of preparation are further advantages. Findings suggested that 1,2-indanedione itself may soon become a practical fingerprint reagent. Tables, photograph, and 14 references (Author abstract modified)