The autoxidation of the indolic neurotoxin 5, 6-dihydroxytryptamine has been studied in pH 7.2 phosphate buffer. The major initial product of the autoxidation has been isolated and by using spectral methods its structure is shown to be 2, 7'-bi (5, 6-dihydroxytryptamine). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry has been used to identify two trihydroxytryptamines and a second dimer of 5, 6-DHT as minor autoxidation products.
