1. A simple organic compound containing a six-membered ring with two nitrogen atoms; a building block of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Usage: chemistry; biochemistry

Examples

• Cytosine, thymine, and uracil are all pyrimidines found in nucleic acids.
• The structure of pyrimidine consists of a single aromatic ring with nitrogen atoms at positions 1 and 3.
• Pyrimidines pair with purines in the double helix of DNA.
• Students studying biochemistry learn that pyrimidines are essential components of genetic material.
• The synthesis of pyrimidine derivatives is important in pharmaceutical research.