MNDO study of the tautomers of nucleic bases

FTIR and Raman spectra and fundamental frequencies of 5-halosubstituted uracils: 5-X-uracil (X=F, Cl, Br and I)

FTIR and Raman spectra of 5-halosubstituted uracils (5-X-uracil; X=F, Cl, Br and I) were recorded in the region 200-4000cm(-1). Assuming under the C(s) point group, the distribution of normal mode of vibrations between the two species as planar (a') and non-planar (a″) are given by 21a'+9a″, of which also correspond to the 30 modes of uracil moiety and the electro negativity of halogen group substitution causes some where mixing/shifting in their modes with other modes. The ring breathing and kekule stretching modes are observed in lower magnitudes compared to those of uracil which could be due to mass effect of halogen atom in place of the hydrogen atom. The C-X (X=F, Cl, Br and I) stretching frequency is distinctly separated from the CH/NH ring stretching frequencies on the pyrimidine ring. All other bands have also been assigned different fundamentals/overtones/combinations.

Reaction of methylated urates with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

The kinetics of the reaction between the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and methylated urates was studied. Urates that had methyl groups on the 1,3,9, or on the 1 and 3 or 1 and 9 nitrogens reacted with DPPH 15 to 77% faster than uric acid. Urates substituted with methyl groups on the 7 nitrogen or on both the 3 and 9 nitrogens reacted with DPPH at rates that were less than 0.1 that of uric acid. 3,7,9-Trimethyluric acid and 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid reacted with DPPH at barely detectable rates. DPPH reacted with uric acid, the monomethylated urates, and some of the dimethylated urates in a ratio of 2:1. DPPH reacted with other dimethylated and trimethylated urates in a ratio of 1:1. Semiempirical MNDO calculations indicate that the most stable radical of uric acid is formed by hydrogen abstraction from the 3, 7 or 9 position. The most stable species resulting from loss of a second hydrogen lack hydrogens at the 3 and 7 positions or the 7 and 9 positions. For maximum reactivity with DPPH, methylated uric acid derivatives must have a hydrogen at nitrogen 7 and one of the hydrogens at either the 3 or 9 position.