
%0 Journal Article
%A Lister, JH 
%T Purine Studies. XXII. Occurrence of N- and C-Methylation on Diazomethane Treatment of 2-Methylthiopurine
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1979/12/01
%V 32
%N 12
%P 2771-2776
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9792771
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9792771 
%X Diazomethane treatment of 2-methylthiopurine gives the expected 9- methyl-2-methylthiopurine as the main product together with a smaller amount of the 7-methyl isomer. An unexpected feature of this reaction, however, is the formation also, in smaller but significant yields, of C,N-dimethylated homologues, identified as 7,8- and 8,9-dimethyl-2- methylthiopurine. Subsequent methylation studies point towards the 8-methyl group in the latter derivatives being introduced prior to the N-methylation step, thus representing an additional alkylation pathway for some purine derivatives. 
