The acid-base properties of eight 3-aminopropionamidine derivatives R,R,N(CH,),C (=NH)NR,R, (1, R,=R,=R,=R,=H; 2, R1=R,=R,=H, R,=Me; 3, R,=R,=R,=H, R,=Me; 4, R,=R,=H, R,=R,=Me; 5, R, = Tos, R2 = R, = R, = H; 6, RI = Tos, R, = Me R, = R, = H; 7, R, = Tos, R, = R, = H, R, = Me; 8, R, = Tos, R, = H, R, = R, = Me; Tos = 4toluenesulphonyl) related to the antiviral natural product distamycin A were investigated in water and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). The measured pK, values for the ammonium function in 1-4 in water ranged between 7.48 and 7-73, whereas the corresponding values in DMSO were 9.4 f 0.3. The amidinium moiety of these compounds displayed pK, values in the range 11.4-12.0 and 13-4-13.6 in water and DMSO, respectively. The tosylamide group in compounds 5-8 was deprotonated in the expected pH region and exhibited pK, values between 9.49 and 10.02 in water, but was considerably less acidic in DMSO (14.5 c pK, s 15.7). The behaviour of the amidinium cation of 5-8 in water and DMSO resembled that of 1-4. The measured pK, values are discussed and the solvent-induced pK, shifts are explained in terms of solvent and substituent effects. The observed pK, differences between the ammonium and the amidinium functions in 1-4 render these compounds suitable intermediates in an alternative synthesis of distamycin A.