SYNTHESIS OF 2-AMINO-3,8-DIMETHYLIMIDAZO[4,5-f]QUINOXALINE (Me-IQx), A POTENT MUTAGEN ISOLATED FROM FRIED BEEF

Abstract A potent mutagen, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (Me-IQx), isolated from fried beef and its 3,7-dimethyl derivative were synthesized from 6-amino-3-methylquinoxa1ine and 6-amino-2-methylquinoxaline, respectively. These compounds showed strong mutagenic activity towards Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of S9 Mix.