Physicochemical characterization hygroscopicity

Spermine [N,N -bis-(3-aminopropy 1)-1,4-butanedi-amine]. H2N-(CH2)3-NH-(CH2)4-NH-(CH2)3-NH2, C,oH2sN4, Mr 202.34, hygroscopic cryst., mp. 55-60°C, bp. 141 -142°C (66.5 Pa), readily soluble in water and ethanol. S. is a biogenic polyamine that, like spermidine, occurs bound to phosphate in seminal fluid and together with the latter is responsible for its typical odor. Furthermore, it is known to be a component of ribosomes and DNA. S. was the first natural product to be characterized by physicochemical methods (crystals of S. phosphate from sperm)The structure was not elucidated until 1927, 250 years after its discovery. 

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