The color reactions of sulfonazo-III isomers with lanthanum and alkaline earth metal ions

Six sulfonazo-III isomers were synthesized, and their color reactions with alkaline earth metals and lanthanum investigated. All six reagents had good sensitivities for lanthanum (? = 1.9–5.0·10⁴), but the sensitivities for alkaline earth metals were fairly low except for the barium chelate of sulfonazo-III (? = 2.8 · 10⁴). The position of the sulfo group on the phenyl ring and the symmetry of the reagent are important for the barium reactions, but of little significance for the lanthanum reactions. The effects of water-miscible solvents are also described.