| abstract |
Compounds of formula (I)n nin which R 1 ,R 2 ,R 3 ,R 4 and R 5 are hydrogen atoms ornchromogenic substituents and X is hydroxyl, OR 6 wherein R 6 nis selected from the group consisting of C 1 - C 4 alkyl, ornO - Me + wherein Me + is a cation derived from an organic orninorganic base; these compounds do not exhibit significantnfluorescence but are capable of being cleaved bynphosphatidyl-inositol-specific phospholipase C, an enzymenwhich is indicative of bacterial activity; the umbelliferylnmoity resulting from such cleavage is a strong fluorogennthus providing effective test methods for variousnpathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria , Staphylococcus andn Clostridium species. A synthesis method is disclosed.nA preferred species of the formula (I) compounds isn4-methylumbelliferyl myo-inositol-1-phosphate and the saltsnthereof with an organic or inorganic base. |