Facile Synthetic Route to Selectively Protected Spermidine Homologues

Several selectively protected spermidine homologues were synthesized via cyanoethylation reaction of monoprotected diamines, subsequent protection of their secondary amino group, hydrolysis of nitrile to primary amide function, and final Hofmann degradation of amides to amines with the aid of iodosobenzene diacetate (PIDA). The protected spermidine homologues may be directly used in the synthesis of polyamine amides or may be further functionalized.