Which one of the following is correct structure for cytosine?
(A)(see structure)
(B)(see structure)
(C)(see structure)
(D)(see structure)✓ Correct
Answer: (D)
Solution
Cytosine is one of the two pyrimidine bases of DNA. Its six-membered ring carries nitrogen at positions 1 and 3, a carbonyl group at C-2 lying between those two nitrogen atoms, and an amino group at C-4, while N-1 bears the hydrogen through which the base is linked to the sugar in a nucleoside. A ring with a methyl group in place of that amino group is not a nucleic acid base at all, and a ring with two carbonyl groups and a methyl group at C-5 is thymine. Cytosine is therefore 4-aminopyrimidin-2(1H)-one, with −NH2 at C-4, C=O at C-2 and hydrogen on N-1.
JEE Main · 2021 · 25 Jul 2021 · Shift 2 · Single correct option