The crystal and molecular structures of 5,6-diamino-1-methyluracil and 5,6-diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil monohydrate have been determined from X-ray diffraction. Both compounds are planar and the two amino groups have two different conformations. The substituent at the 5 position seems to be a true primary amino group with a strongly sp 3 nitrogen, whereas the one at the 6 position is nearly coplanar with the uracil ring, displaying a predominant sp 2 character. Semiempirical calculations were made on 5,6-diaminouracil, 5,6-diamino-2-thiouracil and their endocyclic N-methylated derivatives using the AM1 and PM3 hamiltonians. These indicate that the stability decreases on increasing methylation, the 2-thio compounds always being less stable than the 2-oxo ones.