Studies related to the chemistry of melanins. Part XIII. Studies on the structure of dopamine-melanin

Abstract

As a result of methylation, benzoylation, and other chemical experiments, as well as of studies of the conversion into melanin of samples of dopamine specifically labelled with deuterium at each of the α-, β-, 2-, 5-, and 6-positions (separately), a preliminary outline structures is put forward to represent autoxidative dopamine-melanin. This melanin differs considerably from autoxidative dopa-melanin; in particular, it is suggested that N–C polymeric linkages may be important, and that more uncyclised side chains are present than in dopa-melanin.