Radiolysis of Thymine in Aqueous Solutions: Change in Site of Attack with Change in <i>p</i> H

Abstract

In the radiolysis of thymine in neutral air-saturated solutions the principal site of attack is at the 5,6 double bond; in strongly alkaline solutions the attack shifts to the 5-methyl group. The shift correlates well with a model based on two changes in the reaction path as the pH is increased.