A 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance study of nucleosides with methylated pyrimidine bases

Abstract

Alkylated pyrimidine bases are of interest from the viewpoint of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance data are presented for a series of ribosides and arabinosides alkylated at the O2,O4, N3, and C5 positions of the pyrimidine base. The data provide information about the stereochemical effects of base methylation. The J(5—6) proton coupling constants show that O-alkylation leads to a decrease in the π-bond order of the C5—C6 bond. The 13C chemical shifts are related to the tautomeric changes effected by O-alkylation.