Synthesis of N-(9-Acridinyl)maleimide, a Fluorometrical Reagent for Thiol Compounds

Abstract

The authors have reported1) a new maleimide type fluorescent thiol reagent, N-(9-acridinyl)-maleimide (NAM). In this paper the syntheses of NAM and its coupling products with thiol compounds are presented. NAM was synthesized from 9-aminoacridine and maleic an hydride through dehydratic cyclization in polyphosphoric acid. NAM showed no sub stantial fluorescence but its coupling products with thiol compounds exhibited strong blue fluorescence. Application of NAM for the fluorometrical analysis of cysteine and glutathione are suggested. © 1978, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.