A simple and effective colorimetric technique for the detection of boronic acids and their derivatives

A rapid and facile TLC staining method is reported for the qualitative analysis of boronic acids and related boron-containing derivatives. A red colouration is observed when boron is present due to the formation of a boron–curcumin complex. The structure of the phenylboronic acid–curcumin complex was confirmed using single crystal X-ray diffraction data.