Uracil alkyl derivatives

For unsubstitUted or lower alkylated dioxotriazines, it is advantageous to cyclize semicarbazones by sodium ethylate in ethylene glycol as described by Chang and XJlbricht. In this reaction 6-aza-uracil is obtained in 66% yield. The procedure was used for the preparation of labeled 6-azauracil ° and later for the synthesis of a number of 6-alkyl derivatives including 6-azathymine. °... 

Azauracil and its alkyl derivatives are readily reducible by polarography, in contrast with uracil. This makes it possible to exploit the method analytically. More detailed studies of the polaro-graphic behavior of these substances are in good agreement with the results of spectral studies about the tautomeric form and type of dissociation. ... 

In the early days of meteorite analysis, it was difficult to detect N-heterocycles later, the Murchison meteorite was shown to contain xanthine, hypoxanthine, guanine, adenine and uracil (about 1.3 ppm in total). This meteorite seems to contain various classes of basic and neutral N-heterocycles, as well as isomeric alkyl derivatives. 

Potentially tautomeric pyrimidines and purines are /V-alkylated under two-phase conditions, using tetra-n-butylammonium bromide or Aliquat as the catalyst [75-77], Alkylation of, for example, uracil, thiamine, and cytosine yield the 1-mono-and 1,3-dialkylated derivatives [77-81]. Theobromine and other xanthines are alkylated at N1 and/or at N3, but adenine is preferentially alkylated at N9 (70-80%), with smaller amounts of the N3-alkylated derivative (20-25%), under the basic two-phase conditions [76]. These observations should be compared with the preferential alkylation at N3 under neutral conditions. The procedure is of importance in the derivatization of nucleic acids and it has been developed for the /V-alkylation of nucleosides and nucleotides using haloalkanes or trialkyl phosphates in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride [80], Under analogous conditions, pyrimidine nucleosides are O-acylated [79]. The catalysed alkylation reactions have been extended to the glycosidation of pyrrolo[2,3-r/]pyrimidines, pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines, and pyrazolo[3,4-r/]pyrimidines (e.g. Scheme 5.20) [e.g. 82-88] as a route to potentially biologically active azapurine analogues. 

Uracil and thymine are both reported to have electroshock anticonvulsant activity [371]. A series of 5- and 6-alkyl derivatives was prepared [373] and tested for electroshock as well as for metrazole protection [374]. It was found that most compounds of this type were active in the electroshock test. There is a trend toward increased activity with increased size of the alkyl groups, and introduction of 1,3-dimethyl substituents is also of benefit. Against metrazole-induced shock, however, there are no obvious structure-activity relationships. 

Pharmacological actions - 5-Alkyl derivatives of (LXVI) are also cited as having diuretic activity [431]. Certain 1,3-dimethyl-6-alkylaminouracils are reported to have diuretic activity similar to that of theophylline [432]. 1,3-Dimethyl-5-ethyl-6-(methylamino)uracil (LXVII) was found to be among the most active of the compounds tested. Diuretic and hypotensive activity are also claimed with anils of 5-amino derivatives, such as (LXVIII) [433]. 

N-Alkylation is promoted by prior conversion of the pyrimidinones into their respective silyl ethers. Besides selectivity in the alkylation reactions, silylation confers solubility on molecules which otherwise may be difficult to dissolve in nonhydroxylic organic solvents. Selective N-3-alkylation of uracils requires initial protection of N-1. The alkylation of tautomeric thiones invariably proceeds to give an A-alkyl derivative any N-, 0-, or C-alkylation is less rapid and can be avoided. 

Fig. 2. Tautomers of uracil (R = H, X = O), thymine (R = Me, X = O), cytosine (R = H, X = NH) and their N(1 )-alkylated derivatives in neutral and in the most common anionic species. Only one of the resonance structures is shown.

DNA contains two purine bases, guanine and adenine, and two pyrimidine bases, cytosine and thymine. In RNA thymine is replaced by uracil and in another form, t-RNA, other bases including small amounts of A-alkylated derivatives are present. 

Ribosylation of uracils is usually carried out via bis-silyl derivatives and is subject to the same stereochemical difficulties as purine ribosylation (for further discussion see section 23.2.1.2). 3-Pyridazinones alkylate cleanly on N-2 under phase-transfer conditions but the regiochemistry of uracil alkylation is sometimes difficult to control. 

Azauridine was also synthesized using the knowledge of the course of alkylation of 6-azauracil 2-methylmercapto derivatives (e.g., Section II,B,4,b). The 1-ribofuranosyl derivative obtained by reaction of the mercury salt of the 2-methylmercapto derivative with tri-O-benzoyl-jS-D-ribofuranosyl chloride on removal of the methyl-mercapto and then benzoyl groups yielded crystalline 6-azauridine, The main difference between uracil and 6-azauracil nucleosides consists in the preparation of cyclic nucleosides. It is known that uridine can be readily converted to cyclic nucleosides by the reaction of 2 (50-O-mesyl derivatives with nucleophilic agents, Analogous... 

In addition to the intramolecular effects, steric factors are of considerable influence. The most usual one consists of steric hindrance to attack on the lactam nitrogen atom. Certain examples of this will be given. By comparison with uracil, it would be expected that uric acid (10) would be iV-methylated in the pyrimidine ring, but that in the imidazole ring 0-methylation should also be possible. However, the experiments of Biltz and Max show that all uric acid derivatives which carry a hydrogen atom in the 9-position are converted by ethereal diazomethane into l,3,7-trimethyl-8-methoxyxanthine (11). The following are examples uric acid and its 1-methyl, 3-methyl, 7-methyl, 1,3-dimethyl, 1,7-dimethyI, 3,7-dimethyl, and 1,3,7-trimethyl derivatives. Uric acid derivatives which arc substituted by alkyl groups in the 3- and 9-positions (e.g., 3,9-dimethyl-, 1,3,9-trimethyl-, and 3,7,9-trimethyl-uric acid)do not react at all with diazomethane, possibly because of insufficient acidity. Uric acids which are alkylated... 

Thymine derivatives - 5-[7V-(2-Amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl-propyl)-p-carboxyanilinomethyl] uracil (XXXIII) was synthesized for study as a possible intermediate in the enzymatic synthesis of thymidylate. It is active as an enzyme inhibitor against thymidylate synthetase isolated from E. coli [298]. Certain thymine derivatives containing a 2-thioimidazole moiety (XXXIV, R = alkyl) inhibit growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (fluid form) in mice [299]. 

Cyanoethyl derivatives of 1-alkyl and 1,3-dialkyl-6-amino uracils (LXX) are reported to have activity as anti-ulcer agents. Inhibition of appetite and hypo-cholesterolemic activity are also claimed [437]. 

Alkylation of pyridazinone 945 with 4-bromoacetoacelic acid 944 did not give the 2 -oxo-4 -carboxylic acid analogs, but gave 946 of type 4.1. The uracil derivatives were prepared similarly (90MI4). 

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