PHOTOCHEMICAL AND FREE RADICAL INITIATED REACTIONS OF1,3-DIMETHYLTHYMINE WITH ISOPROPANOL

Abstract— A photochemically induced reaction of 1 ,3-dimethylthymine (DMT) with isopropanol leads to the formation of four alcohol adducts. The products have been identified as the cis and trans isomers of 5 ,6-dihydro-1,3-dimethyll-6-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl) thymine (I and II), 2.4-diaza-8-hydroxy-2.4,6.8-tetramethylbicyclo4.2.0]octan-1,3-dione (III), and 5 ,6-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-6-(2-oxo-l-propyl)-thymine (IV). An acetone photosensitized reaction of DMT with isopropanol gives the same products in a similar relative yield distribution. In both of these reactions, cyclobutane dimers of DMT are produced as well. Free radical reactions of 2-hydroxyisopropyl radicals with DMT, initiated by decomposition of di- t -butyl peroxide, leads to formation of only one of the cis and trans isomers described above. along with 1 ,3-dimethyl-5-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propyl)uracil (V).