Abstract
Copper(II) complexes of purines were prepared as an aid to the constitutional determination of the copper (n) chelates of adenlne and hypo-xanthine. By the systematic blocking or elimination of certain atoms, information was obtained about the influence and significance of various potential sites of attachment on complex formation. On the basis of the replacement principle and the comparison of the properties of the isolated complexes, it was concluded that copper is bound via N-3 and N-9 in the adenlne complexes. Probably there is chain formation in the diaquo-copper(n)-sulphate chelates of purine, 6-amino-purine and 6-hydroxy-purine. If this arises from purine bridges, the attachement at N-3 and N-9 is still the deciding factor in the properties of the complexes. The tsomerlc compound of hypoxanthlne with attachment at N-7 and O was also isolated.