Incorporation of a bicyclic cytosine analogue, 3-β-D-(2′-deoxyribofuranosyl)-7,8-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, into synthetic DNA duplexes results in a greatly enhanced thermal stability (3–4 °C per modification) compared to the corresponding unmodified duplex.
![Graphical abstract: 7,8-Dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one; a bicyclic cytosine analogue capable of enhanced stabilisation of DNA duplexes](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/B606058G.jpg)