SYNTHESIS AND SPECTROSCOPY OF PHOSPHONATE DERIVATIVES OF URACIL AND THYMINE - X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF DIETHYL 6-URACILMETHYLPHOSPHONATE

A new class of phosphonate ligands, derived from uracil and thymine wa s designed, prepared and characterised. Dimethyl (4, 7) and diethyl (5 , 8) uracilmethylphosphonates have been prepared by the reaction of ch loromethyluracil isomers 2 and 3 with trimethyl phosphite and triethyl phosphite, respectively. The corresponding free acids, 5-uracilmethyl phosphonic acid 6 and 6-uracilmethylphosphonic acid 9, have also been isolated. ?he structure of the compounds has been assigned by nmr spec troscopy and, in the case of 8, confirmed by X-ray analysis.