XANTHOPROTEIC

REACTION
XANTHOPROTEIC REACTION
 Boiling concentrated nitric acid
reacts with tyr, trp and phe to yield
yellows products.
 This reaction involves the nitration
of benzene nucleus in alkaline medium.
As a result, amino acids that contain
aromatic nucleus undergo this
reaction.
 Aromatic AAs form yellow nitro
derivative on heating with
concentrated nitric acid, the salts of
this derivative are orange.
XANTHOPROTEIC REACTION
(A) NITRATED TYROSINE
AND TRYPTOPHAN (B)
XANTHOPROTEIC REACTION
 Using 65% nitric acid the aromatic
rings of amino acids like tyrosine and
tryptophan are nitrated. The nitro
derivate show an intensely yellow
color. Because nearly all proteins
contain aromatics it is taken as a
protein-test either.

 The yellow stains on the skin caused by

nitric acid are the result of the
xanthoproteic reaction. The epidermis
cells of the skin contain aromatic
proteins.