Thin-layer chromatographic examination of the degradation of centbucridine in aqueous solutions.

Centbucridine (9-n-butylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine) is a new potent local anaesthetic. Its degradation in aqueous solutions has been investigated with the help of thin-layer chromatography. Apart from the degradation products 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridone, acridone was also found to be present. It is shown that the acridone is produced not through a dehydrogenation reaction but some other unknown pathway.