Base pairing‐induced shift in tautomeric equilibrium of a promutagenic analogue, N6‐methoxyadenosine

Abstract
The nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of N 6‐methoxyadenosine and of uridine, both methylated in the 2′‐,3′‐ and 5′‐positions to obtain solution in deuterochloroform, reveal the formation of hetero‐associates in which the amino—tautomeric equilibrium is shifted to the amino form. These results ar discussed in terms of the mutagenicity of O‐methylhydroxylamine which converts adenosine to N 6‐methoxyadenosine.