Abstract
Ethyl trans-β-benzoylacrylate (t-BAE), which is known to be a degradation product of ethyl α-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-β-benzoylpropionate, and antimicrobial agent against Hiochi bacteria, was checked for its reactivity toward nucleic acid components. t-BAE is capable of reacting with 5'-guanylic and 5'-uridylic acids, but not with 5'-adenylic or 5'-cytidylic acid. These reactions proceed faster in alkaline solutions than in neutral solutions. Alkylations at the N1 position of guanine and the N3 position of uracil are probably the reactions that take place.
