Substrates for the histochemical localization of some glycosidases

Substrates for improved histochemical localizations of some glycosidases were required. The 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β- -glucoside, the β- -glucoside, and the β- -galactoside of 5-bromoindoxyl were synthesised through 1-acetyl-5-bromoindoxyl and the corresponding acetohalogeno-sugars. Attempts to prepare the β- -glucuronide under a variety of conditions were unsuccessful, whereas acetobromo-methyl-glucuronate condensed with naphthoic-2-hydroxy-3-(2′:5′-dimethoxy-4′-chloro-anilide) and a potential histochemical substrate obtained: the preparation of the corresponding derivatives of β- -galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β- -glucose are also described.