Alkylation by 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol of deoxyribonucleic acid and guanosine.

DNA was alkylated in neutral solution at 37 degrees C with 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol and hydrolysed to yield two principal products, identified as 7-galactitylguanine and 1,6-dideoxy-1,6-di(guanin-7-yl)galactitol. The reaction products were separated by chromatography on Sephadex G-10 and Dowex 50 (H+ form). The two compounds were also obtained by reaction between dianhydrogalactitol and guanosine in acetic acid. The products were characterized from their u.v.-spectral data by comparison with those of the 7-alkylguanines and were also identified by mass spectrometry.