Polyamine metabolism I: Synthesis of dansyl derivatives of N-(monoaminoalkyl)- and N-(polyaminoalkyl)acetamides and elucidation in urine of a cancer patient.

The dansyl derivatives of N-(monoaminoalkyl)- and N-(polyaminoalkyl)acetamides were synthesized and unequivocally characterized. TLC of the dansyl derivatives obtained from human urine indicated the presence of N-[3-[(4-aminobutyl)amino]propyl]acetamide (N1-acetylspermidine, N-[4-[(3-aminopropyl)amino]butyl]acetamide (N8-acetylspermidine), and N-(4-aminobutyl)acetamide (N-acetylputrescine) in appreciable amounts. The dansyl derivatives of N1-acetylspermidine, N8-acetylspermidine, and N-acetylputrescine were isolated and purified using various chromatographic methods. The mass spectra of these compounds were similar to those of authentic samples, which confirmed the identity of these compounds and established the presence of N8-acetylspermidine as well as N1-acetylspermidine and N-acetylputrescine in human urine.