Purine studies. XIII. The metabolism of 2,9-Dimethyl-8-methylthiopurine and 2-Carbamoylmethylthio-6,9-dimethylpurine in mice

Abstract

The metabolism of two purines, which enhance the antibiotic activity of phleomycin in vitro, has been followed in mice. 2,9-Dimethyl-8-methylthiopurine (1c) gave mainly 2,9-dimethyl-8-methylthiopurin-6-one (2; R = SMe) and the corresponding sulphoxide (2; R = SOMe). In contrast, 2-carbamoylmethylthio-6,9-dimethylpurine (1d) gave 2-carbamoylmethylthio-6,9-dimethylpurin-8-one (5; R¹ = SCH₂CONH₂, R² = Me) accompanied in the urine by unchanged material (1d). The identity of each metabolite was confirmed by unambiguous synthesis.