Chemistry of Acid-Fastness.

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Abstract
The reaction between crystal violet and lipids of the mycolid acid type, presumably a prototype of the more general reaction between basic dye and acid-fast lipid, was studied. The reaction goes to completion in chloroform. 1 mole of dye combines with 1 mole of mycolic or leprosinic acid. The complex so formed is soluble in xylene as well as chloroform although the dye is soluble only in the latter solvent. The complex exhibits an intense absorption band in the near u. v. (3500 A) which is not present with either the pure dye or pure acids. Other acids were tested and while they might react with the dye, the specific adsorption peak is not produced. If either the carboxyl groups or the hydroxyl group of leprosinic acid are blocked the characteristic reaction does not occur.

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