| Title:  Uracil CAS Registry Number:  66-22-8 CAS Name:  2,4(1H,3H)-Pyrimidinedione Additional Names:  2,4-dioxopyrimidine;  2,4-pyrimidinediol;  4-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyrimidinone;  2-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyrimidinone;  2-hydroxy-4(3H)-pyrimidinone Molecular Formula:  C4H4N2O2 Molecular Weight:  112.09 Percent Composition:  C 42.86%, H 3.60%, N 24.99%, O 28.55% Literature References:  Obtained by hydrolysis of nucleic acids, cf. Levene, Bass, Nucleic Acids (New York, 1931).  Alternate routes of formation:  Johnson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 63, 263 (1941); Fox, Harada, Science 133, 1923 (1961); Takemoto, Yamamoto, Synthesis 1971, 154.  Several desmotropic forms.  Crystal structure:  Stewart, Acta Crystallogr. 23, 1102 (1967).  Review:  Ts'o "Bases, Nucleosides and Nucleotides" in Basic Principles in Nucleic Acid Chemistry vol. 1, P. O. P Ts'o, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1974) pp 453-584. Properties:  Needles from water, mp 335° with effervescence.  uv max (pH 7.0):  202.5, 259.5 nm (e ´ 10-3 9.2, 8.2).  Freely sol in hot water; sparingly in cold water (100 parts of water at 25° dissolves 0.358 part of uracil).  Almost insol in alc, ether; sol in ammonia water and in other alkalies.  pK = 9.45. Melting point:  mp 335° with effervescence pKa:  pK = 9.45 Absorption maximum:  uv max (pH 7.0):  202.5, 259.5 nm (e ´ 10-3 9.2, 8.2) Use:  In biochemical research.  |