6-[(Dimethylamino)methyleneamino]-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione dihydrate

Uracil, the pyrimidine nucleobase, which combined with adenine forms one of the major motifs present in the biopolymer RNA, is also involved in the self-assembly of RNA. In the title compound, C9H14N4O2·2H2O, the asymmetric unit contains one dimethylaminouracil group and two water molecules. The plane of the N=C—NMe2 side chain is inclined at 27.6 (5)° to the plane of the uracil ring. Both water molecules form O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with the carbonyl O atoms of the uracil group. Additional water–water hydrogen-bond interactions are also observed in the crystal structure. The O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network cage consisting of two dimethylaminouracil groups and six water molecules.