The methylation of aminopteridines and aminopyrimidines

Abstract

This thesis describes the methylation of a number of aminopteridines and aminopyrimidines. In actual fact however, it consists of much more than an investigation of one type of reaction, since emphasis has been placed upon the chemistry of the methylation products and the manner in which they can be degraded to recognisable compounds that show the position at which substitution occurred. Factors which may influence the site of methylation in these heterocyclic compounds are also discussed, but because of the diversity that exists in the conditions of methylation (both in this work and in the literature) this cannot be comprehensive. The main text of the thesis is preceeded by an historical account of the earlier methylations which are relevant to the work undertaken, and is followed by a discussion of the results of the physico-chemical measurements made during the investigations.