Oxidation of Thymines and Uracils with Sodium Peroxodisulfate

Abstract

Reaction of thymines with Na2S2O8 in water resulted in selective oxidation of the methyl group at 5-position of thymines. Oxidation of thymines with Na2S2O8 in hydrochloric acid gave 5-chloro-6-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymines and in acetic acid containing NaCl gave 6-acetoxy-5-chloro-5,6-dihydrothymines which were converted to 6-alkoxy-5-chloro-5,6-dihydrothymines with alcohols. The reaction of uracils also gave similar products together with 5-chlorouracils.