An Unexpected Deamination Reaction after Hydrolysis of the Pyrimidine (6-4) Pyrimidone Photoproduct

[Image: see text] Pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproduct (6-4PP), a common DNA photolesion formed under solar irradiation, was indicated to hydrolyze under strong basic conditions, breaking the N3–C4 bond at the 5′-thymine. The reanalysis of this reaction revealed that the resulting water adduct may not be stable as previously proposed; it readily undergoes an esterification reaction induced by the 5-OH group at 6-4PP to form a five-membered ring, eliminating a molecule of ammonia.