Two-photon photochemistry of nucleic acid components

A study was made of the exposure of dilute aqueous solutions of nucleic bases and nucleosides to high-intensity ultraviolet radiation. It was established that such exposure results in destruction of bases and breaking of the N-glycoside bond. The range of reaction products is similar to that found on exposure to gamma radiation. The photochemical transformations observed involve a photoionization and/or photodissociation stage induced by the multistep two-photon excitation of the molecules.