Synthesis and purification of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide for biological applications.

General procedures for the synthesis and purification of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and its synthetic intermediates for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping is described. The synthetic methods are not new per se and are based on Todd's original scheme (1959). In contrast to his account, however, we provide a detailed description of the numerous procedures and precautions necessary to obtain DMPO of very high 'chemical' and (most importantly) 'EPR' purity for use in biological spin trapping.