The chemical basis and specificity of the nitrosonaphthol reaction.

1-Nitroso-2-naphthol reacts with various 5-hydroxyindoles as well as para-substituted phenols and guaiacols. Consequently, this reaction has long been used to measure tyrosine in tyrosinosis and tyrosinemia, homovanillic acid in neuroblastoma, and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid in the carcinoid tumor. We report here on the specificity of this reaction, as well as our early observations with respect to the chemical basis of the reaction.