Reagents for the chemical development of latent fingerprints: Synthesis and properties of some ninhydrin analogues

In an attempt to design new reagents for the chemical development of latent fingerprints, a number of ninhydrin analogues were synthesized and their reactions with latent fingerprints on paper were studied. The ring-fused and substituted ninhydrins developed latent fingerprints with a sensitivity similar to that of ninhydrin. The most promising of the group was 2,2-dihydroxyben[f]indane-1,3-dione, which developed latent fingerprints as dark green images with excellent resolution.