POLAROGRAPHIC-REDUCTION AND POTENTIAL CARCINOGENITY OF SYNTHETIC 1,3,5-TRIAZINE BASES AND NUCLEOSIDES

DC polarographic parameters were measured for a series of 15 synthetic 5-aza compounds derived from cytosine, cytidine, uracil and uridine i n nonaqueous (dimethylformamide) solutions. The substances in aprotic media are reduced in a single two-electron step at the mercury drop el ectrode, except for 5,6-dihydro derivatives of 5-azauracil and 5-azaur idine which are reduced in two steps. alpha-Lipoic acid was added to t he solutions of the substances, and the slopes tg alpha of the plots o f diffusion current of the substances versus alpha-lipoic acid concent ration, which can serve as an index of potential carcinogenic activity of the substances measured, were determined. The tg alpha values of a ll the compounds studied are low as compared to related substances who se carcinogenic activity has been proved. 5-Azacytidine and 5-azauraci l are exceptions exhibiting tg alpha values of 0.295 and 0.400, respec tively. For the former compound, this is consistent with the WHO class ification as ''probably carcinogenic to humans''.