| Abstract: | 2-(2,4-Dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-yl)methylsuccinic acid ( 2a ) and 2-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)methylsuccinic acid ( 2b ) were synthesized through the addition reaction of uracil and adenine, respectively, to dimethyl methylenesuccinate, followed by hydrolysis of the resulting dimethyl esters. Dicarboxylic acid 2a was further converted to the corresponding di-p-nitrophenyl ester 3a and dicarboxylic acid 2b was converted to the di(cyanomethyl) ester 3b . The active esters 3a and 3b were polycondensed with diamines such as 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,6-diaminohexane, 4-aminomethylbenzylamine, and piperazine in solution, giving polyamides containing uracil and adenine as the side group. The polyamides were found to have molecular weights in the range of about 1000–5000. The polyamides derived from 1,2-diaminoethane and piperazine were soluble in water. |
