Advances in Fingerprint Technology.pdf

Figure 5.16 The fluorescent product of the reaction between 1,2-indanedione
and amino acid. (From Petrovskaia, O.G., Design and Synthesis of Chromogenic
and Fluorogenic Reagents for Amino Acid Detection, Ph.D. thesis, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1999.)
used methanol in their best formulation and did not notice any adverse effect.
As opposed to Joullié, 144,145 they did notice a positive effect of cooling the
exhibits to liquid nitrogen temperature. 151
Acetic acid was found to have a blurring effect on the developed prints
and, hence, is not recommended for use in indanedione solutions. 150 After
checking the various parameters, Wiesner et al. suggested a working solution
composed of 1,2-indanedione (0.2%) in HFE7100 solvent, containing about
7% ethyl acetate. 150 Preliminary observations indicate the following advantages
of 1,2-indanedione over DFO:
1. Higher sensitivity (it detects more identifiable prints)
2. Higher solubility in nonpolar solvents
3. Good results in a non-CFC solvent (HFE7100)
4. Cost
The reaction mechanism of 1,2-indanedione with amino acids was
explored by Petrovskaia and Joullié, who suggest the formation of a 1,3-dipole
(XXVII, Figure 5.16) as the fluorescent species. 112
Wiesner et al. 150 report that no new prints can be observed in a sequential
treatment with ninhydrin after 1,2-indanedione. In the authors’ opinion, this
indicates a faster and more complete reaction of indanedione with amino
acids than the DFO reaction with amino acids (after which ninhydrin does
provide new prints). Thus, the use of indanedione may save one stage in the
sequence: DFO, ninhydrin, PD, which can turn to indanedione and PD.
Several groups in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, the
United States, Australia, and Japan have initiated extensive studies to evaluate
1,2-indanedione for operational use. The Israel Police, Division of Identification
and Forensic Science (DIFS), has already begun to use 1,2-indanedione
in casework involving serious crimes. 152