A New Synthesis of a -Methylspermidine

A five-step synthesis of α -methylspermidine (1,8-diamino-5-azanonane), the first polyamine ana- logue preventing pathological consequences of spermidine depletion in transgenic rats overproducing sper- mine/spermidine N 1 -acetyltransferase, from ethyl 3-aminobutyrate was achieved in a high overall yield.