pteridine

chemical compound

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July 13, 2026

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Pteridine is a yellow, crystalline bicyclic base with the chemical formula C₆H₄N₄. It is also the name for a class of compounds that share this bicyclic ring system, which includes pterins.1

These compounds are biologically significant, with some pteridines discovered as pigments in butterfly wings, such as the yellow pigment xanthopterin. Folic acid, a B-complex vitamin and important growth factor, is also a type of pteridine. Pteridines are a type of heterocyclic compound, which are organic compounds containing rings with at least one atom that is not carbon.2

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heterocyclic compound
Five- and six-membered rings with two or more heteroatoms
The biological significance of pteridine compounds (from Greek pteron, “wing”) has become apparent since the first known members of the group were discovered as pigments of butterfly wings. One example is the yellow pigment 2-amino-4,6-pteridinedione (xanthopterin).
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The biological significance of pteridine compounds (from Greek pteron, “wing”) has become apparent since the first known members of the group were discovered as pigments of butterfly wings. One example is the yellow pigment 2-amino-4,6-pteridinedione (xanthopterin).
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pyrazine
…of the pyrazine family are pteridines, alloxazines, and phenazines. Certain pigments, first isolated from butterfly wings in 1891, are pteridines, as are the folic acids, which participate in a variety of essential chemical reactions in the body. Riboflavin (vitamin B₂), a growth-promoting factor, is an alloxazine compound. Among the large…
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…of the pyrazine family are pteridines, alloxazines, and phenazines. Certain pigments, first isolated from butterfly wings in 1891, are pteridines, as are the folic acids, which participate in a variety of essential chemical reactions in the body. Riboflavin (vitamin B₂), a growth-promoting factor, is an alloxazine compound. Among the large…
Read More