Wurster's blue

• Tetramethyl -p-phenylenediamine
• N, N, N ', N'- tetramethyl-1 ,4-phenylenediamine

Colorless to reddish solid

Fixed

51 ° C.

260 ° C

6.35

Poorly in water ( 646 mg · l-1 at 25 ° C)

Attention

500 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Tetramethylphenylenediamine ( TMPD ), more precisely N, N, N ', N' -tetramethyl- 1 ,4- phenylenediamine, and a derivative of p-phenylenediamine. It is an aromatic organic compound and forms colorless, light-sensitive, flaky crystals with a characteristic odor.

Properties

Tetramethyl -p-phenylenediamine is such as all derivatives of p-phenylenediamine, stable in donating an electron, Semichinondiimin colored radical cations ( Wurster blue). By further donation of an electron arise colorless quinonediimines dications.

Use

TMPD is used as a redox indicator. In microbiology is TMPD ( Kovacs reagent) for detecting the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase in cells used ( oxidase test).

Other names

• Wurster Blue reagent according to Casimir Wurster (1856-1913)