Abstract: Chromogenic compounds of the formula I ##STR1## and a process for their preparation are described, X denoting a hydrogen atom, a protective group customarily used in peptide chemistry or a group which irreversibly blocks the terminal amino group,A and P being identical or different and denoting an alpha-, beta- or gamma-amino acid which is composed of 2 to 15 carbon atoms with up to 3 nitrogen atoms, 2 sulfur atoms and 6 oxygen atoms, the side-chain of which can be substituted, and P also denoting a dipeptide formed from amino acids of these types,B denoting arginine, homoarginine, lysine, homolysine, ornithine or histidine andR denoting a substituent in the 2- or 3-position.The compounds can be used as substrates for the direction and the quantitative determination of hydrolytic enzymes of enzyme class 3.4.21.

Abstract: Chromogenic compounds of the formula I ##STR1## and a process for their preparation are described, X denoting a hydrogen atom, a protective group customarily used in peptide chemistry or a group which irreversibly blocks the terminal amino group,A and P being identical or different and denoting an alpha-, beta- or gamma-amino acid which is composed of 2 to 15 carbon atoms with up to 3 nitrogen atoms, 2 sulfur atoms and 6 oxygen atoms, the side-chain of which can be substituted, and P also denoting a dipeptide formed from amino acids of these types,B denoting arginine, homoarginine, lysine, homolysine, ornithine or histidine andR denoting a substituent in the 2- or 3-position.The compounds can be used as substrates for the detection and the quantitative determination of hydrolytic enzymes of enzyme class 3.4.21.