6-Chlorouracil

Chemical Properties

White to off-white powder

Uses

Chlorouracil (4-Chlorouracil; 6-Chlorouracil) is a halogenated uracil that is useful in studies of the effects of halogenation on nucleic acid base-pair stability and alkali metal ion affinity. Reaction of 6-chlorouracil with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, 4-methylpyridine, and pyridin-4-yl-morpholine yielded pyridinium-substituted uracils as chlorides which were converted into pyridinium uracilates by deprotonation. These heterocyclic mesomeric betaines are cross-conjugated and thus possess separate cationic (pyridinium) and anionic (uracilate) moieties. Calculations and X-ray single crystal analyses may be used to characterize these systems and to compare the salts with the betaines.

Uses

6-Chlorouracil acts as an inhibitor of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH-H). 6-Chlorouracil is a potential inhibitor of DNA repair glycosylases.