The Effect of Trichloroacetic Acid on the Paper Chromatography of Tissue Amines

The nature of the artifacts formed in the paper chromatography of solutions of catechol amines, histamine, and various tryptamine derivatives in trichloroacetic acid (TCA) has been considered. With TCA solutions of histamine the artifact is not the corresponding N-acyl derivative. It is suggested the production of these artifacts is assisted by the formation of molecular complexes between the above compounds, acting as electron donors, and the TCA acting as electron acceptor. A solvent is described which eliminates multiple spot formation when TCA solutions of the above type are subjected to paper chromatography