| abstract |
Compounds of formula (I) in which R?1, R2, R3, R4 and R5¿ are hydrogen atoms or chromogenic substituents and X is hydroxyl, OR6 wherein R6 is selected from the group consisting of C¿1?-C4 alkyl, or O?-Me+¿ wherein Me+ is a cation derived from an organic or inorganic base; these compounds do not exhibit significant fluorescence but are capable of being cleaved by phosphatidyl-inositol-specific phospholipase C, an enzyme which is indicative of bacterial activity; the umbelliferyl moity resulting from such cleavage is a strong fluorogen thus providing effective test methods for various pathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria, Staphylococcus and Clostridium species. A synthesis method is disclosed. A preferred species of formula (I) compounds is 4-methylumbelliferyl myo-inositol-1-phosphate and the salts thereof with an organic or inorganic base. |