Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Amsacrine

Abstract

Amsacrine (4′-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon- m-anisidide) in both solid and aqueous forms was characterized with the use of resonance and nonresonance Raman spectroscopy (including FT-Raman spectroscopy). Evidence that the acridine nucleus is the dominant chromophoric unit contributing to the resonance Raman spectrum is based upon the apparent similarities of the spectra of aqueous amsacrine (in the unpro-tonated form) and acridine (in ethanol). The probable non-coplanarity of the acridine and phenyl units in the amsacrine molecule (based on previously reported crystal structure data) is consistent with the suggestion that the acridine nucleus may constitute an independent chromophoric unit. Further evidence is derived from analysis of the UV-visible spectrum, which indicates that excitation at 457.9 nm falls within an electronic transition of the acridine nucleus of amsacrine. The excitation profiles of aqueous amsacrine are presented, and four types of profiles have been identified.