Formation of dimers in the gamma radiolysis of aqueous solutions of pyrimidines and N2O

Aqueous solutions of pyrimidines (such as uracil and thymine) containing N2O (125 mM) were irradiated with Co-60 gamma rays source and analysed with paper chromatography technique using suitable solvent developing systems. Among the various radiation-induced products, the three different products located with lower R sub(f) values are U.V. absorbing in character. Spectroscopic analysis such as N.M.R., U.V. and mass spectrometry showed tentatively that these products are dimeric compounds; silylation technique assisted for such investigation. These dimers are the major products in the radiolysis of the pyrimidines and N2O system; uracil produced dimers which constituted 71% of the total uracil loss and thymine 33%. (author)