Alkylation of 6-chloropurine using ethyl bromoacetate gives a mixture of mo
noalkyl regio-isomers from which the title compound, C9H9ClN4O2, was isolat
ed in crystalline form. In both independent molecules, the side chain adopt
s an extended conformation; its carboxymethyl-group plane intersects the pl
anar heterocycle at angles of 60.1 (1) and 65.8 (1)degrees, respectively.