Reduction of quaternary pteridines and purines by sodium borohydride
Abstract
In the 3,4-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-5,6-diphenyl-4-oxopteridinium cation, and in the 1,3-dimethyl-8-phenylhypoxanthinium cation, position 2 of the pyrimidine ring is reduced by sodium borohydride. The analogous reaction at position 8 was observed for the 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthinium cation. The structures assigned to the reduction products are supported by u.v., i.r., and n.m.r. spectra and by degradation reactions.