Radiation-induced reactions of thymine, thymidine and thymidine-5'-monophosphate in aqueous solutions.

Radiochemical reactivities of thymine (T), thymidine (Td), thymidine-3' and 5'-monophosphates (3'-, 5'-TMP) and thymidylyl (3' leads to 5') thymidine (TpT) varied in the following order: [A] T (G-value for decomposition, 1.81) less than Td (2.14) less than 3'-TMP = TpT (2.51) less than 5'-TMP (2.76) in deaerated aqueous solution; [B] TpT (2.82) less than T (3.17) congruent to Td (3.18) less than 3'-TMP (3.49) less than 5'-TMP (3.65) in N2O-saturated aqueous solution; [C] T (2.70) congruent to TpT (2.73) less than Td (2.81) less than 3'-TMP = 5'-TMP (3.47) in deaerated aqueous solution containing sodium formate.