Pteridine studies. Part XXXV. The structure of the hydrated dimer formed by the action of dilute acid on 4-methylpteridine

Abstract

The substance formed from 4-methylpteridine by the action of hot dilute acid is assigned the structure of a hydrated dimer, namely 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-7-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6,7-dihydroxypteridin-4-ylmethyl)pteridine (IVa) on the basis of n.m.r., u.v., i.r., and mass spectra. 4-Methylpteridine is shown to add other nucleophiles stepwise across the 7,8- and 5,6-double bonds (in that order). An improved method for preparing 4-methylpteridine is reported.