Supra­molecular motifs in 1‐(2‐cyano­ethyl)thymine and 1‐(3‐cyano­propyl)­thymine

In both 1‐(2‐cyano­ethyl)thymine [systematic name: 3‐(5‐methyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetra­hydro­pyrimidin‐1‐yl)propane­nitrile], C₈H₉N₃O₂, (I), and 1‐(3‐cyano­propyl)thymine [systematic name: 4‐(5‐methyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetra­hydro­pyrimidin‐1‐yl)butane­nitrile], C₉H₁₁N₃O₂, (II), the core of the supra­molecular structure is formed by centrosymmetric dimers generated by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Further weak hydrogen bonds of C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N types generate mol­ecular tapes and sheets that resemble those in uracil and its methyl derivatives. The steric hindrance that arises from the cyano­alkyl substituents perturbs the conformations of the tapes and sheets.