Molecular Weight: 152.177 (alternatively stated as 152.18, with minimal difference due to calculation precision or rounding)
EINECS Number: 200-037-4
Physical Properties
Appearance: Yellow crystalline powder
Melting Point: Various melting point data exist, such as 313314°C (decomposition), 241244°C, etc., which may be due to differences in testing conditions, sample purity, or crystallization morphology.
Boiling Point: 471°C
Density: 1.82g/cm³
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, and practically insoluble in ether. Higher solubility in alkaline solutions, but unstable and prone to slow hydrolysis.
Chemical Properties
Stability: It darkens in air and light, and is prone to oxidation. It loses crystalline water at 140°C.
Reactivity: Slowly decomposes in alkaline solutions.
Pharmacological Properties
Mechanism of Action: 6-Mercaptopurine is a hypoxanthine-like drug that interferes with nucleic acid synthesis, also known as an antimetabolite. It prevents the synthesis of nucleic acids, stops the division and proliferation of cancer cells, and even causes cancer cell death due to unbalanced growth resulting from continued protein synthesis despite halted DNA synthesis.
Indications: Primarily used in the treatment of leukemia, including acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, and the blast crisis phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Also used in the treatment of tumors such as choriocarcinoma and malignant mole.
Drug Interactions: May interact with other drugs, such as increased toxicity when combined with allopurinol.
