Pteridines General discussion

The present review covers the literature to the end of 1967 and all original sources have been consulted. Syntheses of each of the four ring systems are summarized separately, but physical, chemical, and biological properties are considered generally. Many pjTidopyri-midines were initially synthesized for a study of biological activity or physical properties because of the close structural relationship of these systems to the quinazolines (5) and pteridines (6). Recent reviews have discussed these related compounds. 

Covalent hydration has been demonstrated in the following families of compounds 1,6-naphthyridines, quinazolines, quinazoline. 3-oxides, four families of l,3,x-triazanapththalenes, both l,4,x-triazanaphthalenes, pteridines and some other tetraazanaphthalenes, and 8-azapurines these compounds are discussed in that order. In general, for any particular compound (e.g. 6-hydroxypteridine) the highest ratio of the hydrated to the anhydrous species follows the order cation > neutral species > anion. In some cases, however, anion formation is possible only when the species are hydrated, e.g. pteridine cf. 21 and N-methyl-hydroxypteridines (Section III, E, 1, d). Table V in ref. 10 should be consulted for the extent of hydration in the substances discussed here. 

Pteridine, and substituted pteridines, are generally very thermally stable. However, because of the ready reaction with water, and other nucleophilic species, pteridines are unstable in hot solutions. Pteridine undergoes ring fission of the pyrimidine ring in aqueous acid to yield 3-aminopyrazine-2-carbaldehyde 11 (aqueous base yields 10). Such ring fission has been reviewed,28,29 and is discussed further in Section 7.3.1.4.7.2. 

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