24Dioxopyrimidine

2,4-Dioxopyrimidine, commonly known as uracil, is a heterocyclic organic compound and a member of the pyrimidinedione family. It consists of a six-membered pyrimidine ring with carbonyl groups at positions 2 and 4. Its molecular formula is C4H4N2O2, with a molar mass of about 112.09 g/mol. The ring is planar and aromatic, containing nitrogens at positions 1 and 3.

Uracil is one of the four nucleobases in RNA, where it pairs with adenine via two hydrogen bonds, replacing thymine found in DNA. It occurs naturally in cells and is involved in RNA synthesis and turnover. In its pure form, uracil is a white crystalline solid with solubility in water and other polar solvents.

In chemistry and biochemistry, uracil serves as a versatile building block for nucleotide synthesis and as a scaffold for various nucleoside and heterocyclic compounds used in research and medicinal chemistry. It is a standard reference compound in studies of hydrogen bonding, tautomerism, and nucleobase interactions.

Safety and handling are generally straightforward, with uracil regarded as of low toxicity and managed under standard laboratory precautions.

See also: thymine, cytosine, nucleic acids.