Structural Alteration of Nucleic Acid Bases by Bromomalonaldehyde

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00195a030

Bromomalonaldehyde (BMDA), prepared by bromination of malonaldehyde with elemental bromine, has been employed to modify a number of nucleic acid bases.These reactions transform pyrimidine and purine bases into modified systems containing etheno and etheno carboxaldehyde moieties, among other products.The structures of these modified bases were established by UV, mass spectral, and high-field NMR data.Fluorescence emission data for some of the adducts are of significance.The general mechanism of modification is discussed.