Methylthiouracil Explained

Verifiedrevid:437194533
Iupac Name:6-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one
Width:180
Cas Number:56-04-2
Atc Prefix:H03
Atc Suffix:BA01
Pubchem:667493
Chembl:1330588
Unii:QW24888U5F
Kegg:C19265
Chemspiderid:580871
C:5
H:6
N:2
O:1
S:1
Smiles:CC1=CC(=O)NC(=S)N1
Stdinchi:1S/C5H6N2OS/c1-3-2-4(8)7-5(9)6-3/h2H,1H3,(H2,6,7,8,9)
Stdinchikey:HWGBHCRJGXAGEU-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Methylthiouracil is an organosulfur compound that is used antithyroid preparation. It is a thioamide, closely related to propylthiouracil. Methylthiouracil is not used clinically in the United States, it has a similar mechanism of action and side effect to that of propylthiouricil. The drug acts to decrease the formation of stored thyroid hormone, as thyroglobulin in the thyroid gland. The clinical effects of the drug to treat the hyperthyroid state can have a lag period of up to two weeks, depending on the stores of thyroglobulin and other factors.

Synthesis

Methylthiouracil is prepared quite simply by condensation of ethyl acetoacetate with thiourea.[1]

Further work in this series shows that better activity was obtained by incorporation of a lipophilic side chain.

Notes and References

  1. Vorbrüggen H, Ruh-Pohlenz C . Synthesis of nucleosides . Organic reactions . April 2004 . 55 . 1–630 . 10.1002/0471264180.or055.01.