Reagents for detection of primary amines

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR26## wherein R is a lower alkyl,
• X is an ionizable group,
• n is 1-5,
• R'--CH--R.sup.2 is a naturally occurring sugar, and
• said ionizable group is an alkyl carboxylic acid, an alkyl sulfonic acid, alkyl sulfinic acid, alkylphosphonic acid, phenol, thiol, quaternary amine, amidinium, imide, beta-diketone or nitroalkane.

A product prepared by a process comprising reacting a primary amine with an XArQCA reagent in the presence of alkali cyanide, said XArQCA reagent having the formula:

• ##STR27## or salts thereof wherein Ar is an aryl or heteroaromatic group;
• One of R and X is an ionizable group and the other is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, aryl lower alkyl, alkoxy, diloweralkylamine or piperidinyl group, and
• n and q are independently 0-5, provided at least one ionizable group is present,
• wherein said ionizable group is an alkyl carboxylic acid, an alkyl sulfonic acid, alkyl sulfinic acid, alkyl phosphonic acid, phenol, thiol, quaternary amine, amidinium, imide, beta-diketone or nitroalkane,
• said heteroaromatic group contains 5-14 ring atoms and 1, 2, or 3 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S or O, and,
• said primary amine is an alkylamine containing one to six carbon atoms, a naturally occurring amino acid, a peptide containing 2-50 naturally occurring amino acids, or an amino sugar.