2-Naphthyl acetate

Chemical Properties

WHITE FLUFFY POWDER

Uses

2-Naphthyl acetate has been used as a substrate:

• in substrate sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to examine the composition of lipases in larvae and adult specimens
• in the preparation of zymograms to identify proteins with lipase activity
• to measure non-specific esterase activity and β-esterase enzyme activity

Uses

2-Naphthyl Acetate is used in the staining of gels for esterase activity in the biological laboratories. An esterase substrate.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 91, p. 2162, 1969 DOI: 10.1021/ja01036a081

Biological Activity

2-Naphthyl acetate/β-naphthyl acetate (BNA) is an ester substrate. It can be used in staining gels to detect esterase activity. BNA dissolved in acetone and ethanol produces a dark and very light/no background respectively. Hence destaining is not necessary if ethanol is used to dissolve BNA for esterase staining of gels.

Purification Methods

Distil the acetate in a high vaccum and/or crystallise it from pet ether (b 60-80o) or dilute aqueous EtOH. The picrate has m 80o (from EtOH). [Beilstein 6 H 644, 6 I 313, 6 II 600, 5 III 2982, 6 IV 4267.]